Jayalalithaa thanks Centre for not hiking rail fares, welcomes focus on women safety

Jayalalithaa said that it was disappointing that the Railway Minister has not announced new trains.

Jayalalithaa said that it was disappointing that the Railway Minister has not announced new trains. (Source: Express Archive)

Welcoming the Railway Budget 2015-16, AIADMK chief and the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa said she was happy that the Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has not increased the passenger rail fares, sparing the common man. She said the budget plans that aim to achieve a substantial improvement of the Operating Ratio in the coming fiscal year through efficiency measures is also a welcome step.

“Passenger safety, in particular, the safety of women passengers, cleanliness in the Railways, and environmental sustainability have all been accorded appropriate high priority by the Railway Minister. Passenger amenities are also being improved by harnessing information and communication technology. These are areas of necessary and welcome emphasis,” she said in a statement.

Jayalalithaa said the budget proposal to purchase cheaper traction power by Railways should be in consultation with the state governments and Power Utilities. Jayalalithaa added that Chennai should be given high priority in the Diamond Quadrilateral High Speed Rail network, for which the preparatory works are to be commenced soon.

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Comparing the proposed new infrastructure financing mechanism in the budget with that of Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Fund Management Company (TNIFMC), she appealed the Centre to ensure enough funds for projects in Tamil Nadu which have been held up for want of funds.

“Tamil Nadu had sought support for 10 critical new projects which need to be taken up for the State of Tamil Nadu and similarly, 22 projects are pending execution which were announced on various earlier occasions but were not taken up for want of funds. We hope that after the review is completed our demands will be addressed adequately while announcing new trains,” Jayalalithaa said.

She hoped the speedy implementation of the three railway projects – the Chennai-Thoothukudi freight corridor, Chennai-Madurai-Kanniyakumari high speed passenger link and Coimbatore-Madurai high speed passenger link.

However, she said that it was disappointing to note that the budget has not made announcements regarding the introduction of new trains.

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“Overall, we welcome the Railway Budget 2015-2016 as it has not caused any additional burden to the common people while charting a path for the long term improvement of the Indian Railways,” said Jayalalithaa, who had to resign from the Chief Minister post after she was convicted in a disproportionate asset case in September 2014.

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