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          There are about 427 Railway projects which are going on for years together.  They relate to doubling of railway line, conversion of gauge sections, railway electrification programme, track renewal programme, improvement of signalling system, etc.   But everywhere the achievement is far beyond the targets.  If the Railways move in this way, it cannot achieve its ambitious targets.  The Minister has proposed that the Railways will have zero tolerance, zero accidents and zero loss of land which are highly ambitious targets.  

          I further thank Hon’ble Minister for announcing new express train daily between Tiruchirappali-Tirunelveli Intercity Express via Madurai and Virudunagar.  But the long demand of introducing express trains or super fast trains from Trichy to Kanyakumari, Pudukkottai to Chennai and a direct train from Trichirappalli to Bangalore are not yet announced.  So, this line should also be included for introducing new express train.
          Rock Fort express which is also called as Malai Kottai express in Tamil Nadu was early running between Trichirappali-Chennai –Tiruchirappalli.  Since, Tiruchi and Puddukkotai are populous cities and a huge number of people from these cities are benefited due to this Rock Fort express. In view of Gauge conversion this express was extended upto Thanjavur in year 2000, then up to Kumbakonam in 2004. Now the gauge conversion has been completed on the main line Thanjavur and various trains connect Chennai. After restoration of train connectivity on the main line the Rock Fort express should be run on its original line that is between Tiruchirappalli to Chennai and Chennai to Tiruchirappalli since people of Tiruchirappalli and Pudukkottai to whom this train has been introduced could not get reservation in Rock Fort Express.  I request Hon’ble Minister to take necessary action in this regard. 
          What have we seen in the last five years in terms of development of railways? If we look at the infrastructure, new facilities, doubling of railway lines, gauge conversion, signaling, welfare and many other things, the Railways has not contributed much and it is a very peculiar position.
          I shall now point out some of the demands pertaining to my Constituency, Purulia District, in West Bengal. From the point of railway network, it is an underdeveloped district. From Ranchi to Purulia, the distance is only 122 kilometres. Ranchi, as you know, is the Capital of Jharkhand. Earlier, Purulia was in then undivided Bihar. It became a part of West Bengal on 1st November, 1956. From Ranchi to Purulia, the distance is only 122 kilometres. Out of this stretch of 122 kilometres, 88 kilometres have been converted into double line, and only 34 kilometres remain single line. This is disadvantageous for running of the trains and also the poor people from Purulia are facing various problems and difficulties while traveling to Bokaro Steel Plant, Ranchi, Asansol, Durgapur and Tatanagar. In the discussions on the Railway Budget, I have noticed that two hon. Members mentioned that it should be converted into double line. Today, I wish to demand that the remaining line should be converted into double line.
Since, there is not much time available, I will only mention two or three important things. There is Sivakasi town, which is famous for its small scale industries.  It needs to be connected with Coimbatore by a daily passenger train. The Shencottai-Madurai passenger train may be extended up to Coimbatore. The lines of Trichy-Shencottai, Shencottai-Erode and Shencottai-Bangalore have to be connected.  Rameshwaram–Shencottai has to be connected with daily train. The broad gauge conversion between Tirunelveli-Tenkasi and Shencottai–Punnalur lines need to be completed as early as possible.