DMK chief urges Prabhu to take up shelved TN projects

Chennai, Feb 2: Ahead of the railway budget, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today urged Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to give an impetus to projects for Tamil Nadu that were shelved over the years due to several reasons.

He referred to projects put on hold, including those aimed at improving connectivity and reducing congestion in suburban areas of Chennai.

The Chennai Beach-Korukkuppettai third line, Chennai Central-Basin Bridge fifth and sixth line, the 88.3 kilometre long Athippattu-Puthur line, Chennai Beach-Athippattu fourth line and Sriperumbudur-Guduvancherry line were among the projects he cited in a letter to Suresh Prabhu.

He also mentioned projects in other districts like the Kumbakonam-Tiruvarur, Omalur-Mettur Dam, Erode-Palani, Madurai-Tutucorin via Aruppukkottai. "Some of these projects were announced during 1996-97 and 1998-99.

Having completed all preliminary works like studies on viability, it is not fair to stop the projects," he said. He likened it to showing a fruit to a child and then all of a sudden hiding it to the disappointment of the child and wanted the Minister to reopen such projects.

"People of Tamil Nadu will be happy and thankful to you if you can kindly focus your attention to reopen these projects and give them a new life and impetus in the coming Railway Budget," he said. He lauded Prabhu for the "dynamic initiatives' he has been undertaking with regard to new physical infrastructure and expansion of connectivity to new areas.

"I am also happy about your distinct efforts to improve Service delivery overcoming certain challenges. I wish you success in all your endeavours to make railways a more responsive organisation," he said.

PTI