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            Notwithstanding with the realities and un mindful of long term interests of this vital infrastructure in sustaining the national’s economic and industrial growth.  The successive railway minister’s have their own railway agenda.

            Budget allocations were un realistic causing the back log of projects like gauge conversion, new lines, doubling and safety measures.

            There is whooping Rs. 30,000 crores require for only gauge conversion which might take 10 to 20 years to complete depending up on the availability of financial resources.

            Arumuganeri, which is near Tiruchendur is well known for production of salt. The salt producers find it very difficult to transport salt from Arumuganeri by train.

They have to send salt by metre gauge up to Tirunelvelli and by broad gauge to other parts from Tirunelvelli. They incur double loading charges because of this. To put an end to salt producers' problem, the gauge conversion is a must and needs immediate action. Moreover, 90 per cent of works in minor bridges have been completed. Except one or two, all the works in major bridges have also been completed. The Railway Department can finish gauge conversion between Tirunelvelli and Tiruchendur with minimum amount and in least time. So, I would humbly request the hon. Railway Minister, Shri Lalu Prasad, to consider gauge conversion from Tirunelvelli to Tiruchendur. I hope and trust that the wish of people of my constituency will come true with words of sanction by your goodself at the time of reply today since this is the immediate necessity for my Tiruchendur constituency.

            The heavy traffic between Tumkur and Bangalore has created a lot of problems for the passengers.  The roads are highly congested and the number of vehicles on the roads between these two cities is increasing day by day.  Accidents are taking place almost every week. The trains running between these two cities are also jam packed that is why I am demanding the Centre to complete the ongoing gauge conversion at the earliest.  In fact, it is Shri Jaffer Sharief, the then Railway Minister, who laid the foundation stone of this gauge conversion project.  Gauge conversion work has been completed up to Dabaspet.  But unfortunately 50% of the entire gauge conversion is pending for the last one decade. Surprisingly the amount allocated for this work has been diverted for completing other railway lines.  Now, it is high time for the Hon. Railway Minister to take up this pending work and complete it before the end of the year 2006.

Rail car service was in operation between Thiruthuraipoondi and Agasthiampalli, a place known for the famous Salt Sathyagraha.  The diesel rail car service must be resumed. Common salt is moved from Vedaranyam to several places in the country.  Hence the broad gauge conversion of the existing metre __________________________________________________________________*English translation of the speech originally delivered in Tamil and also laid on the Table.

gauge must be taken up expeditiously. Computerized Railway Reservation centre must be established in Thiruthuraipoondi.  I urge upon the Railways to allocate funds immediately facilitating gauge conversion between Thiruvarur – Nagapattinam. Since it is a secular pilgrim centre where pilgrims throng to visit all the three worship places that belong to three different major religions, Railways must link it with railway lines.