The Hindu Business Line : Railway Budget plans lauded

Issues addressed
To set up coach factory, finance Vallarpadam project connectivity
Freight rates on petrol, diesel, fly ash to be cut
No mention of introducing suburban trains

Our Bureau

Kochi, Feb. 26 The announcement in the Railway Budget for setting up a new coach factory in Kerala as well as providing financial assistance to the rail connectivity to the upcoming Vallarpadam Container Transhipment Terminal project has been generally welcomed by the trade and industry here.

The announcement that financial help will extend towards the cost of Vallarpadam terminal project is of great significance to Kochi, Mr R. Mohandas, President, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) said. The Budget, he said, is generally welcome as there is no increase in passenger fares and freight. The proposals to improve the facilities/amenities will help to make the journey comfortable.

State allocations

Though the State has been allotted only four trains out of the total 63, it would have been just and reasonable if at least a few more daily trains were granted to meet the growing passenger traffic in the State to far away places, he said. However, nothing is mentioned about meeting the long-pending demand to introduce suburban trains in Kerala to ease the heavy congestion on the main roads connecting the cities to the capital, as well as the need for over-bridges.

The Chamber also requested the Minister to allocate adequate funds to complete the ongoing work on the doubling of lines and electrification in Kerala, which is progressing slowly.

Welcome decisions

Mr Jose Dominic, President of the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the decisions to cut freight rates on petrol, diesel, fly ash etc and to have the highest freight rate classification cut to 200 are welcome. The move to bring down sleeper fares will benefit the common man immensely.

The Chamber appreciated that substantial outlays have been earmarked for the improvement and addition of infrastructure in the Railways. The initiatives aimed at promoting its CSR by addressing the aspirations of the weaker and needier sections of the society are also commendable, he said, adding that the initiatives aimed at making the Indian Railways more environment-friendly is laudable.

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