Congress MP Manickam Tagore Appeals to PM Modi for the Resurgence of the Madurai-Thoothukudi Broad Gauge Project
Click to start listening
Chennai, Jan 11 (NationPress) Manickam Tagore, a Congress leader and Member of Parliament representing Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar, has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reinstate the Madurai-Thoothukudi broad gauge railway line project.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, Tagore pointed out that this project, which received approval in 2011-12, aims to enhance transport connectivity within Tamil Nadu, especially in underdeveloped areas such as Virudhunagar, Aruppukottai, and Thoothukudi.
He mentioned that considerable headway has been made, with an 18-km segment between Milavittan and Melmarudur finished and operational after successful testing by the Commissioner of Railway Safety in March 2022.
This development, he stressed, showcases the project’s capacity to bolster regional connectivity.
Tagore indicated that the Tamil Nadu government is fully prepared to assist the project by facilitating land acquisition. However, he raised concerns that the Ministry of Railways has not disbursed salaries for 350 sanctioned special posts over the last year. He also referred to reports suggesting that the Ministry might consider disbanding these positions, which are vital for the completion of the project.
He reminded that on March 21, 2023, proposals for field surveys and administrative approval regarding land acquisition were submitted by the Aruppukottai Revenue Commissioner. These proposals were subsequently sent to the government by the Commissioner of Land Administration in Chennai for approval.
Furthermore, Tagore highlighted the appeal made by Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during a meeting of State Finance Ministers, requesting funds for essential infrastructure projects, including the Madurai-Thoothukudi railway line. Despite continuous requests from the state government, he observed that the Ministry of Railways has yet to allocate the necessary funds to propel the project forward.
Tagore criticized a recent comment by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, which attributed delays to the Tamil Nadu government, asserting that this project has always been a Central government initiative. He affirmed that the Tamil Nadu government has consistently backed the project by proactively facilitating land acquisition and vigorously seeking funding from the central government.
The Congress MP accused the Ministry of Railways of withholding funds and salaries for sanctioned positions, claiming that these actions could be deliberate attempts to obstruct or abandon the project. He cautioned that terminating the project at this juncture, after substantial investments, would lead to a significant setback.
Tagore urged the Prime Minister to intervene and instruct the Ministry of Railways to reassess its decision to abandon the project. He called for the government to explore alternative solutions to address existing challenges and ensure the project’s prompt completion. He stressed that completing the project as planned would prevent further wastage of public resources and serve the people of Tamil Nadu.
