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Without increasing the freight and fares, the hon. Minister has announced a lot of development works throughout the country regarding the Railways. I can say that with all humility.

I am now coming to my constituency, to my State. If I remember correctly, after Independence and during the British time, the constituency which I represent had only one line. The Howrah-Chennai line was the only line. There was nothing else apart from that. But I want to make one request. The hon. Minister is present here. Parlakhemundi Maharaj Krushnachandra Gajapathi Dev, who was the founder of the Orissa State, started construction of one narrow-gauge line from Naupada to Gunpur. Now, the broad-gauge work is going on.… (Interruptions) The work of conversion of that line into a broad-gauge line is going on. In the last Budget, they gave about Rs.15 crore for that. But in this year, it has come down to Rs.5 crore. So, I would request the hon. Minister to raise it to Rs.25 crore.… (Interruptions)

Regarding gauge conversion, in my constituency, gauge conversion of Cuddalore-Salem line has been taken up and completed upto Vridachalam. This year, up to Athur it has been taken up. I would like to request the hon. Minister to extend it up to Salem and complete it early. There is also a main line from Cuddalore to Tanjavur via my constituency, Chidambaram. I have requested the hon. Minister to take that also into account in this year’s Budget. I would request him to take that work also and complete it – it is in my constituency, Chidambaram - by converting that line into broad gauge.

SHRI P.C. GADDIGOUDAR (BAGALKOT) : * Sir, I would like to present the burning problem in my Constituency regarding the gauge conversion work between Bijapur-Gadag.

Sir, as per the original plan, the conversion of 330 km. Hutagi (Sholapur) Gadag metre gauge line into broad gauge should have been completed by 1998. While launching the gauge conversion work at Bijapur in 1993, the then Railway Minister, Jaffer Sharief had announced that he would ensure that the work would be completed before the time frame set for the commissioning the project. After his exit, the conversion was completed only up to Bijapur by that deadline.

Sir, Railway is the symbol of National Integrity. This could happen only if the rail development is evenly carried out benefiting all the 28 States and regions. Kerala is one of the most backward States in terms of railway development. Our repeated plea for a fair share in the railway development project fell on deaf years. Sir, the continuous negative attitude of the authorities forced me to undertake an indefinite hunger strike. Sir, it was after the intervention of the Hon’ble Speaker and assurances by the Railway authorities that I called off my strike in the recent past. But, Sir, still the demand for the Triangular Railway Station at Shornur as well as a Pit Lane not been found place in the present Budget. Electrification of the Mangalapuram-Shornur lane, a new line Nilambur-Nanjancod-Mysore and the gauge conversion of Pollachi-Palakkad sector are important projects. But there is no mention of these projects in the Budget. This kind of attitude is not acceptable.