Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw declared a historic budgetary allocation on February 1 for Southern Railway, earmarking Rs 12,173 crore for the financial year 2024-25. Notably, Tamil Nadu and Kerala stand out with record allocations of Rs 6,331 crore and Rs 2,744 crore, respectively.
Revolutionizing Rail Development: A Breakdown of Budgetary Outlay
Vaishnaw emphasized that the budgetary outlay for both Tamil Nadu and Kerala is seven times higher than the average allocated during the UPA regime from 2009 to 2014. This significant increase underscores the commitment to transforming rail infrastructure.
State-wise Allocations: Pioneering Rail Development in the South
In a press briefing, Minister Vaishnaw highlighted that Tamil Nadu’s allocation of Rs 6,331 crore is a remarkable sevenfold increase compared to the UPA average of Rs 879 crore. The state is witnessing extensive rail redevelopment initiatives, including the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and electrification of 98% of the rail network.
Similarly, Kerala‘s allocation of Rs 2,744 crore, seven times the UPA average of Rs 372 crore, demonstrates a commitment to transformative rail projects. Minister Vaishnaw outlined the accomplishments in Kerala, including flyovers, foot overbridges, and One Station One Product Stalls, along with ongoing redevelopment initiatives.
Southern States’ Rail Renaissance: Unveiling Ongoing and Future Initiatives
Minister Vaishnaw expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for announcing major economic railway corridors. These include corridors for energy, minerals, and cement, port connectivity corridors, and high-traffic density corridors, marking a significant stride towards the modernization and connectivity enhancement of Southern Railway.
(With PTI Inputs)