Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent intervention to direct the Ministry of Railways to expedite sanctioned projects in the state by releasing the required funds and reviving those currently kept in abeyance.
In his letter, Stalin said the progress of several key railway projects was being affected by delays in the release of funds and the practice of allocating money in a piecemeal manner. He noted that the state government had granted administrative approval for acquiring 2,500.61 hectares of land for various central railway projects, but funds for acquiring 931.52 hectares were yet to be allocated by the Railways.
“The delays in releasing funds and the piecemeal allocation have hindered the progress of railway projects in Tamil Nadu,” the chief minister said, adding that the situation had created a state of “prolonged uncertainty” for affected landowners.
Stalin pointed out that land acquisition was 94 per cent complete for 19 major projects, with 1,198.02 hectares already handed over to the Railways. He cited the Thiruvananthapuram–Kanniyakumari broad gauge doubling project as an example, where acquisition of 16.86 hectares remained stalled because the Railways had not released the required Rs 289.78 crore for compensation.
The chief minister urged the prime minister to ensure that funds for sanctioned projects were released in full and on a priority basis to facilitate smooth land acquisition. He also requested reconsideration and revival of key projects currently on hold, including the Thoothukudi–Madurai (via Aruppukottai) and the Tindivanam–Tiruvannamalai broad gauge lines.
Emphasising Tamil Nadu’s role as India’s second-largest economy, Stalin expressed concern over the “relatively low” allocation for new railway projects in the state in recent years. He called for additional projects that matched the state’s “economic stature and developmental needs”.
“I am confident that, with your intervention and with the continued spirit of cooperative federalism, these concerns will be addressed promptly for the mutual benefit of the state and the nation,” the letter said. Stalin also assured the prime minister of the state government’s full cooperation for the speedy execution of all railway projects.
Follow us
