The recent release of the Pink Book for railway allocations has raised serious concerns regarding the financial treatment of Tamil Nadu’s railway projects. There have been significant reductions in the funds that were initially promised for the state’s new railway lines and double-track projects in the interim budget.
Significant Reductions in Allocations
In the interim budget, ₹976 crore had been allocated for new routes under Southern Railway. However, the finalized Pink Book drastically reduced this amount to ₹301 crore. Similarly, double-track projects, which were initially set to receive ₹2,214 crore, have seen their allocation reduced to ₹1,928 crore.
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One of the most concerning examples is the Thindivanam-Senghi-Tiruvannamalai line. While ₹100 crore was allocated for this project in the interim budget, the finalized Pink Book cut this amount to a mere ₹1,000. Other routes, such as the Athipattu-Puttur line, also faced severe cuts, with its allocation reduced from ₹50 crore to just ₹1,000.
Projects Severely Impacted
The following are some of the key projects affected:
- Thindivanam-Nagari route: Reduced from ₹350 crore to ₹153 crore.
- Erode-Palani route: Cut from ₹100 crore to ₹1,000.
- Chennai-Mahabalipuram-Cuddalore coastal route: Slashed from ₹25 crore to ₹1,000.
- Madurai-Arupukottai-Thoothukudi route: Reduced from ₹100 crore to ₹18 crore.
- Sriperumbudur-Kuduvancheri-Irungattukottai-Avadi line: Cut from ₹25 crore to ₹1,000.
- Morappur-Dharmapuri route: Reduced from ₹115 crore to ₹49 crore.
Even the double-track projects were not spared. The Katpadi-Villupuram line, which originally had ₹150 crore allocated, was reduced to ₹1,000. Similarly, the Salem-Karur-Dindigul double-track allocation was cut from ₹150 crore to ₹1,000.
Tamil Nadu’s Railway Projects Face Setback
The interim budget had created hope by announcing significant allocations for Tamil Nadu’s railway infrastructure, but the release of the Pink Book has dashed many of those expectations. The funding cuts appear to affect a wide range of projects, including new routes and double-track developments, with some projects seeing their allocations reduced to nominal amounts.
These reductions raise concerns about the central government’s commitment to developing critical infrastructure in Tamil Nadu. The state’s leaders have expressed their dissatisfaction with both the Union Budget and the Pink Book, which have failed to deliver on promises of significant investment in Tamil Nadu’s railway sector.
Looking Forward
As the people of Tamil Nadu come to terms with the budget reductions, the focus now shifts to addressing the perceived disparity in railway funding. The expectation is that future budgets will provide more equitable allocations to ensure the state’s infrastructure needs are met.
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