Southern Railway fund allocation up by 42%

CHENNAI: Fund allocation for the Southern Railway for executing various projects in Tamil Nadu and Kerala has increased by 42 per cent this year, when compared to the previous year. According to R Elangovan, working president of Dakshin Railway Employees Union (DREU), Southern Railway was earmarked funds to the tune of Rs 2,837 crore for carrying out projects including purchase of rolling stocks, doubling of lines, electrification and passenger amenities. The allocation has been increased to `4,026 crore for the coming fiscal, he added.Though at glance, it may appear as gains for the Southern Railway, he claimed that the allocation for important works pertaining to doubling of lines, electrification and new lines has been reduced. “The Southern Railway was sanctioned funds amounting to Rs 1,437 crore for the above works last year. But, the allocation in this year’s budget for the same works is decreased to rs 826 crore,” he alleged.Citing the allocation for new lines last year, Elangovan underlined that the funds for this purpose should have been doubled in the present budget. “Of the Rs 226 crore earmarked for new line projects last year, only Rs 151 crore was spent. In such a scenario, the fund allocation for the current year should have been twice. However, only Rs 151 crore was allocated this year,” he substantiated. In fact, no New Line Projects were sanctioned for Tamil Nadu in 2012-13.