Our demand for new trains hasn’t been attended to
Hon Deputy Speaker, Sir, I pray to my god, leader Puratchi Thalaivi Amma to speak on the Railway Budget. This is for the first time that the Railway Budget was presented by the finance minister. The ongoing projects introduced by the earlier UPA government have still not been completed. We are first-timers and our demand to introduce new trains has not been properly attended so far.
Every year hon minister of railways used to consult various organisations to include their views and demands in the Railway Budget. However, this time due to the merger of Railway Budget with the General Budget that could not happen. We request the hon minister to attend the business people, group chamber of commerce of our state and district for fresh demands for introducing trains.
Hon minister has not increased the rail fares this time and we thank him for that. However, he has increased rates of many items without giving notice to general public. The hon prime minister asked the government to be transparent in all matters. But the Railways increased many charges marginally without the knowledge of the common public. In the current scenario the speed of passenger trains and goods trains in India is excruciatingly slow. The engine of the passenger trains can travel at a speed of 150 kmph.
New trains are introduced every year but due to the major difference in the ratio of the new lines and dedicated freight corridor, these trains have to bear the brunt of traffic congestion thus delaying them and putting them behind schedule.
Sir, there were scams in freight operations in Railways. The CBI conducted raids all over India and it turns out to be a ~4,000-crore scam. But till date the action taken against those involved has not been informed.
Sir, Southern Railway is the most earning railway in the country. Even Salem Division earned more profit within a short span after it started functioning. But facilities to Southern Railway, especially Tamil Nadu, are not being provided adequately. The trains overflow with crowds and there are no adequate trains from Chennai to Coimbatore, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Tanjavur, etc. I request the hon minister to introduce a new train from Chennai to Mettupalayam. Till that is done, the Cheran Express may be extended up to Mettupalayam with additional coaches. I also request the hon minister to introduce summer special trains from Chennai to Coimbatore, Madurai, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari from April to June. I think the minister will accept this demand immediately.
Railway hospitals, particularly in Tamil Nadu, are in pathetic condition. Dialysis facilities are not there in Chennai railway hospitals. It is reported that deaths also occurred in these hospitals due to non-availability of dialysis facility. The hon minister should improve the services and facilities in these hospitals. Promotions for employees in Southern Railway are getting delayed, especially so in the sports quota. The management is not taking into consideration the original seniority. In the case of ICF, Chennai, the sports quota should be filled by chief personnel officer by appointing his state people where he belongs to. There are a number of ICF apprentices who have completed training but have not been provided job opportunities yet. I request the hon minister to intervene and recruit those who have completed ICF apprenticeship. It is also brought to your notice that personnel officer of Railways and ICF should not stay at one place for a long period to avoid favouritism.
Hon Speaker, I raise an important and fruitful appeal to the minister to connect Mettupalayam with Chennai via Sathyamangalam, Gobi chet tip ala yam, Cithode, Erode to Chennai to fulfil the genuine demand of the people of western Tamil Nadu. Mettupalayam is about 55 kilometres from Ooty which is the capital of Nilgiri district and a well-known tourist centre, the most popular destination of Indian cinema industry. In spite of my raising the matter in Zero Hour and also my representation to the railway minister, this has not been materialised even after 35 years. Tourists and the local people coming to or going from Ooty have to alight at Mettupalayam and continue their further journey. Mettupalayam lies deep in the Kongu region and it does not have rail connectivity to Erode via Sathyamangalam, Gobic hetti pal a yam. If Mettu pa lay a mis connected to Erode by broad gauge rail line, then people can easily reach Chennai as Erode is already connected to Chennai.
At present, a project to construct a new railway line from Chamrajnagar to Sathyamangalam, Go bi chet tip ala yam and Erode is progressing. The work is going on very slowly. If this project is expedited, then the railway line has to be extended up a distance of only 46 kilometres. By doing this, Mettupalayam adjoining Ooty will be connected to Chennai by a rail line via Sathyamangalam, Go bi chet tip ala yam, Cithode and Erode to Chennai at a very nominal cost. Local people as well as tourists are in dire need of this rail line.
Rameswaram and Thiruchendur are two important religious places in Tamil Nadu. There is no direct rail line and trains. There is need for construction of two under-bridges — one at Kolathupalayam and another at Pasupathipalayam. I also request for speedy completion of the road under-bridge project at Kolathupalayam, ~6.50 crore for the road under-bridge project at Pasupathipalayam and another road under-bridge project that has been sanctioned at Pudhu kola thu pa lay am, which is on the Karur-Salem Railway line.
Southern Railway is the most earning railway in the country. Even Salem Division earned more profit within a short span after it started functioning. But facilities to Southern Railway, especially in Tamil Nadu, are not being provided adequately