 "Jaya calls Interim Railway Budget as a total disruption")
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said that the Railway Budget 2014-2015 was really the disruption that took place in the Lok Sabha, led by Ministers of the UPA Government.
"This, perhaps, was the most telling statement on how ineffective the UPA Government has been and the extent to which frustration with the Government has grown even within the Congress Party and within the Government and amongst its own Ministers. This reflects the total failure of the UPA Government and governance".
She added, the Budget itself was extremely disappointing. There is hardly any addition to carrying capacity, both in terms of passengers and freight in the Southern region of the country and Tamil Nadu in particular. Very few new train connections have been announced for Tamil Nadu. Most of the new benefits are confined to the Northern parts of the Country and this highlights the UPA’s step-motherly treatment of the South and Tamil Nadu in particular.
There is no word on additional funding for the completion of long pending gauge conversion projects and new line projects in Tamil Nadu. It is critical that new investment takes place in this important infrastructure sector to ensure that Tamil Nadu’s growth momentum is sustained. But our hopes have been belied and very limited additional funding has been announced and even on-going projects will be delayed substantially.
The new Railway Tariff Authority also seems to be a ploy to shift the onus of fixing tariffs to a separate body and disowning responsibility for fixing tariffs for a mode of transportation used by the common people. The UPA Government is, as usual, trying to distance itself from tariff hikes as in the case of diesel and petrol prices.
There is nothing in the Railway Budget for the people of Tamil Nadu to cheer about. But I take satisfaction in the fact that it is only an interim Budget and the main Railway Budget to be presented in June, 2014, by a new Government will undoubtedly reflect the aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu.
"This, perhaps, was the most telling statement on how ineffective the UPA Government has been and the extent to which frustration with the Government has grown even within the Congress Party and within the Government and amongst its own Ministers. This reflects the total failure of the UPA Government and governance".
She added, the Budget itself was extremely disappointing. There is hardly any addition to carrying capacity, both in terms of passengers and freight in the Southern region of the country and Tamil Nadu in particular. Very few new train connections have been announced for Tamil Nadu. Most of the new benefits are confined to the Northern parts of the Country and this highlights the UPA’s step-motherly treatment of the South and Tamil Nadu in particular.
There is no word on additional funding for the completion of long pending gauge conversion projects and new line projects in Tamil Nadu. It is critical that new investment takes place in this important infrastructure sector to ensure that Tamil Nadu’s growth momentum is sustained. But our hopes have been belied and very limited additional funding has been announced and even on-going projects will be delayed substantially.
The new Railway Tariff Authority also seems to be a ploy to shift the onus of fixing tariffs to a separate body and disowning responsibility for fixing tariffs for a mode of transportation used by the common people. The UPA Government is, as usual, trying to distance itself from tariff hikes as in the case of diesel and petrol prices.
There is nothing in the Railway Budget for the people of Tamil Nadu to cheer about. But I take satisfaction in the fact that it is only an interim Budget and the main Railway Budget to be presented in June, 2014, by a new Government will undoubtedly reflect the aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu.