Railway budget,the best: Karunanidhi

Chennai, Feb 26 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today congratulated Railway Minister Lalu Prasad for presenting the best Railway budget, satisfying all sections of the society.

Reacting to the budget proposals, the Chief Minister, in a statement here, said Mr Prasad deserved commendation for reducing by five per cent the fares of second class and according top priority to passenger safety.

Mr Karunanidhi, whose DMK is a key constituent of the Congress led UPA Government at the Centre, thanked Mr Prasad on behalf of the people of the State for sanctioning a number of projects to the State.

He said the decision to introduce eight new trains and extending four other trains in the State was good news for the people of the State.

The decision to implement the third phase of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) from Velachery to St Thomas Mount at a cost of Rs 496 crore by the year 2010 was praiseworthy, he said.

UNI WS GD SYU KP2227