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“Railway projects will step up economic growth”

PUDUCHERRY: Leader of the Pattali Makkal Katchi’s Parliamentary party M. Ramadass on Saturday commended Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad for announcing four vital schemes for Puducherry in the railway budget for 2008-2009. These projects, including introduction of a tri-weekly Puducherry-Bangalore Garib Rath, would accelerate the Union Territory’s economic growth, he said.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Ramadass said the linkage between Bangalore and Puducherry by introducing the Garib Rath would enable IT professionals in Puducherry to travel to the IT city in Karnataka without hassles. If the train was introduced, fresh vegetables could be transported to the Union Territory without delay, he said.

Another important announcement made in the budget related to creating a “pitline” facility at the Puducherry Railway Station at the cost of Rs.6 crore for maintenance of coaches. Once the facility was created, more train services could be introduced to Puducherry, he said, adding that the station could also be elevated to world standards.

Mr. Ramadass also thanked Mr. Prasad and Union Minister of State for Railways R.Velu for sanctioning four road over bridges (RoB) — three in Puducherry and one in Mahe in lieu of railway level crossings at Arumbarthapuram, 100 ft road in the town, Uppalam and the one in Mahe. The Railways would earmark Rs.51.34 lakh for each RoB project, he said, adding that removal of the railway gates would ensure free flow of traffic.

The fourth project, which was important for the Union Territory was the proposed new railway line linking Chennai and Cuddalore via Puducherry along the East Coast, he said. The project had been cleared by the Cabinet Committee for Economic Affairs. The Prime Minister had also described it as a gift to Puducherry. The work on the Rs.523-crore project would commence shortly, he added.

The project would also neutralise the “negative implications” of introduction of the Value Added Tax, in view of the reduced freight charges, he pointed out.

Welcoming the waiver of farm debts to the tune of Rs.60,000 crore in the union budget for 2008-2009, he said the government was working out the modalities of reducing the interest rate of farm loan.

Mr. Ramadass expressed his gratitude to Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss for his efforts in providing reservation in the medical and dental courses for the students of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under all India quota.

At the initiative of Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, an application was moved in the Supreme Court for introducing reservation for under graduate medical and dental seats under all India quota, he said, adding that the apex court had left it to the Central government to take a policy decision on the issue.

As per the government’s decision, 15 per cent seats would be earmarked for the SCs and 7.5 per cent for ST candidates out of a total of 2,075 seats, he added.

Last year, the government moved a similar petition for reserving seats for SCs and STs for 3,248 medical and dental postgraduate seats, he recalled.

“Because of the special efforts taken by Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, 1,184 SC and ST students will have the benefit of medical and dental education in both UG and PG courses every year under the scheme,” he said.

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