Funds put Southern railway work on track

Chennai: As compared to 2014, there has been a significant increase in fund allocation for Southern Railway this year. This will ensue completion of on-going projects by the stipulated time, Raj Kumar, additional member, Railway Board, told presspersons after an inspection of various services and amenities at the Central Station here on Friday. In 2015, until now, the Centre had allocated Rs 950 crore compared to Rs 850 crore last year. During the current year, there will be no dearth of funds as far as the projects were concerned, he said.

“Fast trains that will be introduced from Chennai that will connect Kanyakumari and Coimbatore is a primary concern for the state government which has already  shown a keen interest on the project,” said Anupam Sharma, divisional  railway manager, Chennai. The modalities of the financial aspects of the project are in initial stages of discussion and the state government is eager to take it forward after discussions with the railway ministry, he added.

“The construction of the Tambaram terminus will be completed and put to use within a year,” he said. The railway officials inspected the medical emergency services, toilets, and security and control services at Chennai Central station as part of the passenger and customer facilitation fortnight organised between May 27 and June 9.