Financial Crunch

Today's Paper » NATIONAL TIRUCHI, March 9, 2013

General Manager admits funds crunch

Staff Reporter

Acknowledging that the railway was facing a financial crisis, Southern Railway General Manager Rakesh Misra on Friday said the fund allocation for the Southern Railway zone during 2013-14 was around Rs. 800 crore.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the new ortho block at the Railway Hospital in Golden Rock here, Mr. Misra was replying to a query on the delay of ongoing railway construction works in Tamil Nadu.

The railways had not increased passenger fares for several years and with diesel and electricity costs increasing, there was problem of finances, he admitted.

To a question on opposition from the people of Tiruchi for extension of the Pallavan Express to Karaikudi and their persistent demand for the restoration of the Rock Fort Express to Tiruchi, Mr. Misra said that decisions pertaining to extension of trains and operation of new trains were not within the purview of the Southern Railway.

The Railway Board would take the final decision, he added.

He said recruitment in Southern Railway was gradually taking place after a gap of two years.

“We are getting more Loco Pilots and Track Men,” he added.

The Divisional Railway Manager Manjula Rangarajan, Chief Workshop Manager, Golden Rock Railway Workshop P. Mahesh, Chief Medical Director, Southern Railway S. Ramprakash and railway officials were present.