Industry & Economy
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Railway Budget
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Kerala
Kerala Chambers hail Rail Budget
Our Bureau
Kochi
,
Feb. 24
The trade and industry in the State have generally welcomed the Railway Budget 2006-07, by appreciating the Minister's decision not to increase the freight rates.
Mr N. Sreekumar, President of the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that by lowering the commodity groups, the freight rates of diesel and petrol are likely to come down by eight per cent. This will have a cascading effect, which will improve the overall economy, he said.
The proposal to give major thrust to public-private participation is a step in the right direction. The introduction of ATM's and cyber cafes at all major stations is also a welcome step, he said.
Mr Raja Sethunath, Vice President of the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the announcement to allow private container carriers and establishing separate railway lines for freight traffic would boost the industrial sector.
Provisions to modernise railway stations and strengthen passenger security and to reduce AC train fares are welcome proposals, he said.
DISAPPOINTMENT
However, it is disappointing that the long-term demand for separate railway zone for Kerala has not been considered in this budget also, he said and requested the MPs from the State to collectively convince the Railway Minister for separate railway zone for the State and for a daily train service in the Kochi-Bangalore sector.
Mr Balagopala B. Pai, President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that in view of the ever-increasing passenger traffic, there is every need to make Bangalore- Ernakulam express a daily train.
Considering the heavy present congestion on the road traffic in Kerala and the anticipated traffic grown in Kochi, he said it would be blessing to the commuters if the railways could run shuttle services from Kochi to northern and southern directions and vice versa.
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