Project delays because rlys not releasing funds: Min

Trichy: Transport minister S S Sivasankar has strongly countered railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's allegation that Tamil Nadu is delaying central railway projects through slow land acquisition. At a press conference in Trichy on Tuesday, he denied any state request to abandon projects and stressed that Tamil Nadu has actively expedited land acquisition for railway initiatives. He attributed delays instead to railways' failure to release funds, and lack of response to repeated state requests.Sivasankar termed as false and contrary to facts claims that Tamil Nadu govt sought abandonment of Madurai–Thoothukudi (via Aruppukkottai) broad gauge railway line, which supposedly led to its cancellation. "Tamil Nadu govt has never made any such statement. On the contrary, we have consistently and repeatedly urged speedy implementation and execution of this project," he asserted. He said the govt (transport department) issued administrative sanctions for Madurai–Thoothukudi (via Aruppukkottai) project based on Land Plan Schedule (LPS) supplied by railways. Chief minister M K Stalin wrote to Ashwini Vaishnaw on Aug 19, 2024, requesting adequate fund allocation.
He added that district collectors of Virudhunagar, Madurai, and Thoothukudi sent follow-up letters to Southern Railway, demanding proper financial allocation for the project, yet no reply was received. "Does the Union Railway Minister even know the details of those letters," he asked. Sivasankar said when the state sought a current status and financial report on Tamil Nadu railway projects from Southern Railway's GM, the deputy chief engineer replied that work on the Madurai–Thoothukudi broad gauge line has been completed up to Melamarudur (18km), but the remaining sections have been abandoned by Southern Railway citing ‘low freight prospects.'Regarding govt poramboke (wasteland) lands needed for railway lines, the minister said there are no obstacles to project execution. "Government orders are issued from time to time, and govt lands are handed over to railways accordingly," he stated.He emphasised that since May 2021, Tamil Nadu has given priority to expediting long-pending railway projects announced by the Union govt. In the past five years, administrative sanctions were granted for seven projects based on LPS provided by railways, with acquisition work actively progressing. Sivasankar said nearly 100% land acquisition was completed for several key projects, including Tindivanam-Nagari, Madurai-Thoothukudi (Phase I), Maniyachi-Nagercoil, various doubling lines, and others. "Delays in projects such as Tindivanam-Tiruvannamalai arise solely from non-release of funds by railways," he said.