Kerala - Kochi
Railway Budget ignored State: Thampan Thomas

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) president Thampan Thomas has said that Kerala has been totally ignored in the Railway Budget for 2006-07.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Mr. Thomas said that instead of demanding zones and surveys, the State should demand new lines, doubling of lines and improvement of basic facilities. Kerala needs to raise its voice for more passenger trains, the development of Kalamassery railway station, Konkan Railway and the goods station at Kalamassery, introduction of Metro Railway and Nilambur-Mysore railway line which will give a shorter route to Bangalore and similar projects.

Mr. Thomas said the Railway Budget was nothing but a "Lalu-Velu nexus." He said the proposed cargo corridor of Rs.2,200 crores should not be a corridor to export iron ore, cotton and other raw materials to foreign countries. He alleged that the Budget lacked practical vision and was aimed at large-scale privatisation.
(The Hindu - 28/02/06, Tuesday)