Rail Budget neglects Kerala: Business Chamber

Kozhikode, Feb 24 (UNI) Describing the railway budget presented in Parliament today as ''disappointing'' for Kerala, the Malabar Chamber today said the proposal by and large ignored the long standing demands, including a separate railway zone for the state.

People expected a separate railway zone as demanded by all parties, cutting across political affiliation, for the overall development of the state but the proposal has not touched upon the demand, the Chamber of Commerce said in a release.

Budget allocation for completion of Mangalore-Shornur track doubling, which was delayed due to scarcity of fund, has not also been made in the proposals, the chamber said.

The proposal also ingnored other long standing demands, such as, a Tanur-Guruvayur railway line and Thalassery-Mysore track, pending clearance for decades, the release said.

It was evident from the proposals that while it ignored the state, it has taken special emphasis to award many rail projects to States like Bihar, the chamber alleged.

However, the Chamber welcomed the decision not to hike passenger fare, freight and to slash on petroleum products freight charges, the release added.

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