The Hindu Business Line : Indian Chambers hail Rlys' move to tie up with steel industries

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Kochi Feb. 26 Various chambers of commerce and industry have hailed the Railway Budget, saying that the heavy accent on infrastructure development with a view to improving freight movement and passenger amenities is most welcome.

Mr K. Retnam, President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the Railway Minister has succeeded in his efforts to make the largest public utility services in the country a profit making one that too not at the expense of the users but through better management.

STRESS ON CONTAINERS

The statement of the Minister that special emphasis would be given to the container traffic with a five-year plan strategy are of particular interest in Kerala in view of the upcoming Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal project, he said.

The decision to start a joint venture company with Steel Industries Kerala Ltd, Alappuzha to manufacture ICF design fabricated bogies of passenger coaches is a good initiative that will serve the State well in the days to come.

Considering the heavy traffic originating from Kerala to Bangalore and vice versa, there is an urgent need to introduce one more daily service in this route, he said.

SOCIAL COMMITMENT

The proposal to introduce three-storey container trains, special bogies for milk and vegetables and improved facilities for ordinary passengers indicate the importance given to the commercial aspects as well as the Railways' social commitment.

The introduction of more number of automatic ticket vending machines, e-ticket counters through e-seva of State Governments, post offices and petrol pumps and ATMs will reduce the heavy rush at the railway reservation/ticket counters.

Mr Jose Dominic, President of the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the increase of 17 per cent and 14 per cent in freight and passenger revenues, respectively, is a big achievement and bodes well for the future. The proposed doubling of the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari and Thrissur-Guruvayur rail lines is a long-standing need of the State.

Mr E.S. Jose, President of the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the reduction in passenger fares and the announcement to start a wagon unit are welcome proposals.

The proposals for doubling and electrification of railway lines will help to ease the rail journey.

However, the budget is silent on the long time demand for separate railway zone for Kerala, he said. Considering the price change in diesel charges, the freight charges also should have been reduced, he added.

More Stories on : Railway Budget | Steel | Alliances & Joint Ventures | Kerala

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