TN CM lauds PM, Lalu for excellent Railway budget

Chennai, Feb 27 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today congratulated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad for presenting an excellent and historic Railway budget for the year 2008-09 and thanked them for sanctioning new projects for the state.

In separate letters to Dr Singh and Mr Prasad, copies of which were released to the media, Mr Karunanidhi said for the first time, passenger fares and freight charges have been reduced across the board.

At the same time, additional steps had been taken to enhance the passenger facilities and security, he said adding ''this in my opinion, is the first time in the history of Indian Railways that such a comprehensive package for the passengers has been offered''.

Mr Karunanidhi said he was grateful to say that six projects, all long pending demands of the people of the State, and nine new trains out of 53 for the entire country had been sanctioned.

All the projects would no doubt benefit Tamil Nadu, leading to economic development of the regions concerned, he said and recalled the action taken by the Prime Minister and his cabinet colleagues on his letter dated February 21 with regard to five new railway projects for the State.

In the letter to Mr Prasad, Mr Karunanidhi appreciated the fruitful efforts taken by his deputy R Velu for improving Railway system in the State.

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