 "Jayalalithaa, MGR")
The Chief Minister however appreciated the Railway Minister for sparing the common man and not levying any increase in the fares.
The Chief Minister had set hope in two factors. "I do hope that with the enhanced capital budget and better project management practices being put in place, the railway projects currently under implementation in the State, including the double lining of the entire stretch from Villupuram to Kanniyakumari, would be completed speedily.
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"The Railway Budget for 2016-17 carried considerable weight of anticipation and apprehension. The Railway Minister seems to have been buffeted by the headwinds facing him in terms of the overall slowdown in the international economy and the possible impact of the 7th Pay Commission," said Jayalalithaa.
"With no new trains and no new railway lines announced, the budget belied the sense of expectations nursed by many segments of the population. With the Railway Capital Expenditure expected to be stepped up substantially to Rs 1.21 lakh crores, it is surprising that no specific projects were announced, including several projects in Tamil Nadu which I had requested through my letter dated 11th February, 2016," she said.
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She welcomed the announcement of the first ever Rail Auto Hub to be set up at Chennai, which would cement Chennai's position as a major automobile manufacturing centre not just in India but even internationally.
While welcoming the announcement of the North-South Dedicated Freight Corridor from Delhi to Chennai, she said the proposed East Coast Corridor, which terminates in Vijayawada, ought to have been extended to Thoothukudi, which would have fulfilled Tamil Nadu's long standing request to create a Chennai-Thoothukudi dedicated freight corridor.
She thanked the Railway Minister for announcing the upgradation of the Railway Stations at the pilgrim centres of Nagapattinam and Velankanni. But there are stations at many other important pilgrim centres that need similar upgradation, she said."I would have been happy to hear a specific update on the Diamond Quadrilateral High Speed rail corridors, which were announced with considerable fanfare in last year's Railway Budget," said Jayalalithaa.
