DR. T. SUMATHY (A) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN (CHENNAI SOUTH) :
Southern Railway has been allocated Rs. 3340 crore in the Budget
for the year 2020-2021. This is nearly 19 percent lower than the Rs. 4118.80
crore allotted in 2019-20. The budgetary allocation for 2020-21 has a grant of
Rs. 1238 crore for doubling works; Rs. 175 crore towards gauge conversion;
Rs. 37 crore for traffic facilities and Rs. 198 crore for passenger amenities.
This is absolutely insufficient and I only wish the Government to shed the step
motherly treatment show to Southern Railway in this budget.
Surveys for the three routes Morappur-Dharmapuri via Mokkanur (36
kms), Needmangalam-Pattukottai via Mannargudi, Madukkur (54 kms),
Rameshwaram-Dhanuskodi (17 kms) have been initiated but require funds and
need to expedited in as far as Gauge Conversion Madurai-Bodinayakkanur
(90.4 kms) need to be expedited in doubling too the Attipattu-Korukkupettai (18
kms), 2. Chennai Beach -Attipatu 4th line (22.1 kms) 3. Chennai BeachKorukkupettai 3rd line (4.1 kms) are under progress need to be completed very
soon.
With the escalating cost of execution of pending projects, Southern
Railway would need around Rs. 10,000 crore to complete all pending projects
including the new lines on which preliminary work had begun. This includes
Dharmapuri-Morapur via Mukanur, Ranimukanur (36kms); Kumbakonam-
Virudhachalam Jn (65 kms); Attipattu-Pattur (88.3 kms); Salem-Kallakurichi via
Chinnasalem (58 kms); Erode-Palani (91.05 kms); Madurai-Aruppukkottai –
Tuticorin (144 kms); Tindivanam-Gingcee-Tiruvannamalai (70 kms) and
Tindivanam-Nagari (179.2 kms); Chennai-Cuddalore via Mmallapuram,
Sriperambudur-Guduvanchery with branches to Irungattukottai-AvadiSriperambadur; and Rameshwaram-Dhanuskodi. The lines were sanctioned
over the past 10 to 15 years and costs around Rs. 4,401.2 crore, but so far
railways has spent only Rs. 458.99 crore upto March 2020. This shows the
how Southern Railway has been neglected by the Ministry of Railways. The
Chennai-Cuddalore new line project, biggest among the project can be
developed as East Coast line from Chennai to Tuticorin, alternate to present
congested route via Madurai. It was surveyed in 2008 and got its final approval
after negotiating change of alignment with Puducherry. The new
Sriperambudur-Guduvanchery line will be connecting important industrial
clusters with trunk routes, which will attract more freight traffic. With focus on
safety, Rs. 880 crore have been sanctioned for new road over bridges and
road over bridges, particulary on the Golden Quadrilateral/Diagonal routes
(Chennai-Gudur/Chennai-Arakkonam-Renigunta). This has the potential to
increase the speed of trains.
It is unfortunate that the Railway Board has asked Southern Railway to
stop funding 10 projects in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, including the ChennaiCuddalore line via Mahabalipuram and Sriperumbudur-Guduvanchery new line
projects. However, the Railway Board has assured that the projects which are
in advanced state of completion and crucial for railway operation should be
completed on priority with available resources.
For the Rs. 900 crore Tindivanam-Gingee-Tiruvannamalai project, the
Madras High Court judgement on July 3 declaring the TN Industrial Purposes
Act, 1997 as illegal and quashing of land acquisition process was cited as
reason. The Rs. 1,105 crore Attipattu-Puttur project was stalled due to the
same reasons. The Rs. 1,140 crore Erode-Palani project had been frozen long
ago.
In the Rs. 2300 crore Chennai-Cuddalore project, tenders for Final
Location Survey (FLS) was opened in August and the FLS is expected to be
completed by March 2020. In the Rs. 1500 crore Sriperumbudur-Avadi project,
FLS will be completed by March 2020 and Tamil Nadu Government has
agreed to share 50% of the costs.
It is to be noted that at various points of time in the past, the Preliminary
Engineering Cum Traffic Survey has been conducted in the state to lay new
railway lines for 5000 km. However, no new projects were announced in this
budget. Railway Unions say, the projects hung fire due to the Centre’s delay in
allocating through funds for them. So, it came as a shock when the Niti Ayog in
2015, recommended the railways to shut down all projects which have been in
the pipeline for a long time.
Railway Board had asked the Tamil Nadu State Government to take
these projects under ‘special purpose vehicle’ company, where Indian
Railways develop new infrastructure projects with states in a joint venture
process. But the State Government has rejected the idea saying since
railways come under Central Government, therefore, it is responsibility of
Centre to develop new railway projects. It is an utter ignorance on southern
states, particularly on Tamil Nadu, since even the already existing projects
have not been given proper fund allocation. Based on the Railway Board’s
letter to the Southern Railways, the Centre has now allocated just a paltry Rs.
1000 to show its disinterest towards the projects. This is not at all fair. I don’t
understand the motive behind allocation of such a meagre amount for the
railway projects.
However, other than the Rameshwaram-Dhanushkodi project, the
Centre has allocated Rs. 75 crores for revival of Madurai-Bodinayakanur
route. The route was closed in 2010 for conversion of meter gauge into broad
gauge. But the railway thought to give up the project. After seeing people’s
protest, it took steps to expedite the conversion process.
Under Passenger amenities ahead, a new work for an amount of Rs.
150 crores towards minimum essential amenities with more focus on facilities
for Physically challenged persons at stations across southern railways has
been sanctioned. Rs. 75 crores was sanctioned towards soft upgradation at
stations. This is again very low considering the number of stations required to
be upgraded in Tamil Nadu.The Metropolitan Chennai has been growing
rapidly and traffic volumes have increased greatly. To promote and ease public
transport of various forms including metro rail and to ensure that the share of
public transportation in Chennai city is substantially increased was accorded
top most priority by our beloved leader Dr. Kalaignar during his gold reign.
A detailed feasibility report for the expansion of the Chennai Metro Rail
Project Phase II along 3 corridors -North West to South East; West to East;
and an orbital corridor for a length of 118.9 kms at an estimated cost of Rs.
69,180 crores is very important for the people of Chennai particularly my South
Chennai Constituency which extend upto Sholinganallur and beyond. Also the
integration of the Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), with the
Chennai Metro Rail is desirable and would enable effective synergies between
various modes of public transport and increase share of public transport.
I urge upon the Government to support the Phase II of the Metro Rail
Project of Chennai and to ensure that all necessary clearances are provided
expeditiously to fulfil the dream and aspirations of the people of Chennai to
provide the much needed fillip to the public transport system in the Chennai
Metropolitan City. Due to the introduction of New Metro Rail Policy by
Government of India and updating the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP)
and Alternative Analysis for mode of transport, final DPR of Phase II Chennai
Metro Rail Project has been sent to the Government of India for the approval
on January 11, 2019. Out of 118.9 km, Japan International Co-operation
Agency ( JICA) has already approved a loan of Rs. 20,196 crore for
implementing the stretch of 52.01 km and agreement for first tranche of JICA
loan has also been signed. For the remaining stretch, Rs. 18,328 crore has
been approved in principle for the loan assistance from Asian Development
Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), New Development Bank
(NDB) and World Bank. Therefore, I urge the Union Government to expedite
the approval of the DPR of Phase II of Chennai Metro Rail Project.
In Chennai Metropolitan City, the Central and Egmore railway stations
are strategically important in the sub-urban railway EMU line connecting
Chennai with several stations in Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur and Vellore District.
There is an urgent need to have a skywalk connecting Central and Egmore
stations. Many important railway crossings near Central and Egmore stations
and in Chennai particularly the Elephant Gate Bridge needs to be renovated
and strengthened. Therefore, I urge upon the Government to take up the
redevelopment and modernization of railway stations at Chennai Central and
Egmore in one go and also to provide much needed fillip to all the railway
stations.
I would like to point out the undue delay and the urgent need for the
completion of extension of Chennai-MRTS route from Velachery to St. Thomas
Mount. Another important demand of the people of my South Chennai
Constituency is halting of South bound express trains at Saidapet Railway
station. Both Saidapet Railway Station and Mylapore MRTS station requires
escalator facilities both up and down. A good number of toilets with hygienic
conditions and a feeding room for the benefit of lactating mothers should be
provided at both the station. Thank you.
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