In a mixed reaction to the Railway budget, parties, including DMDK, being wooed by BJP for an alliance for coming Tamil Nadu assembly elections, today hailed measures for improving passenger amenities but flayed lack of new projects and allocation for the state.
Besdies DMDK, the PMK and MDMK, erstwhile ally of BJP, also welcomed the non-increase in passenger fare and a host of measures aimed at improving passenger amenities.
DMDK President Vijayakant, PMK chief Ramadoss and MDMK General Secretary Vaiko welcomed measures including 33 per cent quota for women in reservations and increase in lower berth allocations for senior citizens and women.
Also Read
"It is disappointing that much expected projects for Tamil Nadu were not announced," Vijayakanth said, adding it has led to a situation leading to an opinion that "north (India) thrives, and south wanes."
"Railway budget on the whole is some joy and many disappointments," PMK chief Ramadoss said.
Both DMDK and PMK, which were part of NDA for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, welcomed the non-increase in passenger fare and a host of measures aimed at passengers' welfare.
Vaiko said the budget, on the whole, was disappointing.
"The moves of the BJP government seemingly push the Railways towards phased privatisation," he alleged.
Vaiko and Ramadoss said a majority of new plans announced last year had still not shaped up and 19 railway projects in Tamil Nadu have been put on cold storage due to fund crunch.
The PMK chief said, "to implement such projects, when Rs.9,215 crore was needed not even 10 per cent of it was announced in this budget.
