Tamil Nadu gets a fair share of new railway projects

Chennai, July 3 : Tamil Nadu figured prominently in the budgetary proposals of Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee tabled in parliament Friday.

Whether it is the upgrade of railway stations, introduction of new trains, building of medical and nursing colleges, development of railway land or freight corridor, the state had a fair share of proposals.

Chennai Central is one of the 50 stations that will be developed as a world class station through public-private partnership (PPP).

The railways will also build multi-functional complexes housing shopping areas, food courts and budget hotels at 50 locations across India including Kanyakumari, Madurai, Rameswaram and Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu.

Chennai will be home to a railway medical college, attached to its hospital here, and a nursing college to be set up on a PPP model.

The railway minister also announced premium parcel service between Delhi to Royapuram in the state.

Tamil Nadu also figures in the point-to-point non-stop service to be launched for the first time in the country with a train between Chennai and the national capital.

The state capital will also get a train for women during peak hours apart from express trains between Madurai and Chennai, as well as Kanyakumari and Rameswaran via Madurai.

The minister also extended the service of a few trains and said a new train information system will be started here in addition to those in Delhi and Kolkata.

--IANS