In a significant development for rail connectivity in Tamil Nadu, the Union Ministry of Railways has approved a stoppage for the Tirupati-Mannargudi Pamani Express at Panruti station. The move fulfills a long-standing demand of the residents of Panruti in Cuddalore district and marks the third such success for Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary, A Ashvathaman, in leveraging his access to the Union Railway Minister.

The approval was formally communicated via a letter from Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to Ashvathaman. “Kindly refer to our discussion regarding train stoppage at Panruti station for public convenience. You would be pleased to know that stoppage of train no. 17407/17408 Tirupati – Mannargudi Pamani Express at Panruti station has been approved,” the minister’s letter stated.

Thank you so much ji
There are no words to express my gratitude. The people of Panruti will always remember your service with love and respect

Hon’ble Railway Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw ji, my heartfelt thanks for sanctioning the Tiruppathi–Pamini Express stoppage at… pic.twitter.com/KvlacCr7pd

— Ashvathaman Allimuthu (@asuvathaman) November 24, 2025

The decision has been met with widespread appreciation from the local populace. Ashvathaman extended heartfelt thanks on behalf of the people of Panruti. He emphasized that the new halt would benefit “thousands of daily travellers, students, small traders, and devotees visiting Tirupati.”

This achievement is part of a pattern of successful interventions by the BJP state secretary. In a single day in March 2024, Ashvathaman had presented two petitions to Minister Vaishnaw during his Chennai visit, requesting stops for express trains at Ulundurpettai and Kuthalam. The minister had immediately instructed officials to act, and the Railway Board approved the halts the same night.

The latest approval for Panruti follows a petition submitted by Ashvathaman in September 2024, which was endorsed by 1,000 individuals, urging the halt of express train services at the station.

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Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary Dr. SG Suryah recently met with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to discuss and emphasize several pressing railway-related needs of the state. During their in-person meeting, Suryah presented a detailed list of requests aimed at improving railway connectivity and convenience for passengers in Tamil Nadu.

Called on Union Railway Minister Thiru.@AshwiniVaishnaw in #NewDelhi with important requests received from various Associations across Tamil Nadu for Halts of Key Trains at various Railway Stations.

மத்திய ரயில்வே அமைச்சர் திரு.அஸ்வினி வைஷ்ணவ் அவர்களை புது டெல்லியில் சந்தித்து… pic.twitter.com/Q1scj3RPHg

— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) June 1, 2025

A key demand was the restoration of train halts at Kadambur Railway Station, which serves as the primary station for Kayathar Taluk in Thoothukudi district. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, several significant trains stopped at this station, providing vital connectivity for the local population. However, these stops were discontinued during the lockdown and have yet to be reinstated. Suryah requested that these train services be resumed.

He also sought the inclusion of halts at Gudiyatham Railway Station and Anvarthikanpettai Railway Station in Ranipet district. Furthermore, he proposed the extension of the Jan Shatabdi Express, which currently runs between Coimbatore and Mayiladuthurai, to Chidambaram, a nearby city that would benefit from better rail access.

In particular, SG Suryah requested that the following express and superfast trains be made to stop at Kadambur Railway Station:

1. 16235/16236 Thoothukudi – Mysuru Express
2. 20635/20636 Ananthapuri Express
3. 20691/20692 Tambaram – Nagercoil Antyodaya SF Express
4. 22667/22668 Nagercoil – Coimbatore SF Express

He also emphasized the need for the following major trains to halt at Anvarthikanpettai Railway Station:

1. 66019/66020 Arakkonam – Salem MEMU
2. 12609/12610 Mysuru Superfast Express

Additionally, he pushed for halts at Gudiyatham Railway Station for the following services:

• 12695/12696 Thiruvananthapuram Central SF Express
• 12675/12676 Coimbatore Express
• 12685/12686 Mangaluru SF Express
• 16339/16340 Nagercoil – Mumbai CSMT Express
• 12607/12608 Lalbagh SF Express
• 22625/22626 SBC Double Decker Express
• 16219/16220 Samrajnagar – Tirupati Express
• 22649/22650 Yercaud SF Express
• 13351 Dhanbad – Alappuzha Express

ரயில்வே அமைச்சர் அஸ்வினி வைஷ்ணவ் அவர்களுடன் பா.ஜ.க மாநில செயலாளர் முனைவர் SG சூர்யா சந்திப்பு… தமிழ்நாட்டின் முக்கிய ரயில்வே கோரிக்கைகளை வலியுறுத்தல்!

மத்திய ரயில்வே அமைச்சர் திரு.அஸ்வினி வைஷ்ணவ் அவர்களை நேற்று மே 30-2025 அன்று புது டெல்லியில் சந்தித்தேன். தமிழ்நாட்டின்… pic.twitter.com/QEDvILEyax

— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) June 1, 2025

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has reportedly responded positively and assured SG Suryah that the requests would be considered and necessary steps taken to address them.

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Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday lashed out at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, saying that poor governance will never be hidden by shallow attempts to divide society.

In a post on the social media platform, ‘X’, Ashwini Vaishnaw said: “Poor governance will never be hidden by shallow attempts to divide society. It will be interesting to know what the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has to say on this subject. Does he as MP of a Hindi-speaking seat agree?”

The senior BJP leader was responding to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister‘s statement that how many Indian languages Hindi has swallowed. Stalin said that Hindi had swallowed, Maithili, Awadhi, Braj, Mundeli, Garwhali, Kumaoni, Magahi, Marwari, Malvi, Chattisgarhi, Santhali, Angika, Ho, Kharia, Khortha, Kurmali, Kurukh, Mandari and many more Indian languages.

In a letter to party cadres on Thursday, Stalin argued that several North Indian languages, such as Maithili, Brajbhasha, Bundeli, and Awadhi – spoken in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh – have been suppressed by what he called the “hegemonic expansion” of Hindi. He claimed that more than 25 indigenous languages in North India have been lost due to the dominance of Hindi and Sanskrit.

Stalin credited the century-old Dravidian movement for safeguarding Tamil language and culture through continuous awareness campaigns and protests. He reiterated Tamil Nadu’s strong opposition to the NEP, accusing the Centre of promoting Hindi and Sanskrit under the guise of educational reforms.

Countering the BJP’s argument that the third language under NEP could be a foreign one, Stalin asserted that, in practice, only Sanskrit is being promoted in many states. He cited the example of BJP-ruled Rajasthan, where he said Sanskrit teachers are being appointed while Urdu instructors are being neglected. He warned that if Tamil Nadu were to adopt the trilingual policy, Tamil could eventually be sidelined, leading to increased Sanskritisation.

He pointed out that under NEP guidelines, while Sanskrit is being given prominence in schools, other Indian languages, including Tamil, are relegated to online learning.

“This clearly shows that the Centre is planning to sideline languages like Tamil and impose Sanskrit,” Stalin wrote.

Stalin reminded party members that Tamil Nadu’s two-language policy – Tamil and English – was first mandated by former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai decades ago. Annadurai had strongly opposed the imposition of Hindi and the perceived influence of Aryan culture on Tamil identity. Stalin emphasised that the state has a long history of resisting Hindi imposition. He cited the anti-Hindi protests of 1937–39, during which leaders like Periyar (E.V. Ramasamy) and Justice Party members actively opposed efforts to make Hindi compulsory in schools under the then C. Rajagopalachari-led government. He also questioned the BJP’s criticism of blackened Hindi signboards at railway stations in Tamil Nadu.

He asked whether railway stations in Uttar Pradesh display Tamil or other South Indian languages for the benefit of passengers traveling from the South, particularly for events like the Kumbh Mela or Kashi Sangamam. He further inquired whether railway station announcements in Uttar Pradesh were made in other Indian languages. Stalin asserted that Tamil Nadu’s steadfast adherence to its two-language policy has contributed significantly to the state’s advancements in education, skill development, and employment opportunities.

He accused the BJP-led Central government of betraying Tamil Nadu and vowed to take all necessary measures to protect the Tamil language. “We won’t oppose if you don’t impose. We won’t blacken Hindi words in Tamil Nadu. Self-respect is the hallmark of Tamils, and we will not allow anyone, no matter who they are, to undermine it,” he declared.

–IANS

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The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government faces backlash after Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the scrapping of the Madurai–Thoothukudi broad-gauge railway line due to the state’s opposition. The ₹1,875-crore project, stalled by slow land acquisition, has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, which accuses the DMK of stalling development and betraying regional interests.

DMK Opposition To Railway Project

The ruling party in Tamil Nadu, the DMK, has long accused the central government of viewing the state with a “stepmotherly” attitude. However, recent developments suggest the situation was always otherwise. This became apparent when Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on 10 January 2025 that the 143.5-km broad-gauge (BG) railway line project from Madurai to Thoothukudi, passing through Aruppukottai had been scrapped due to opposition from the Tamil Nadu government.

The project, which had been under construction by Southern Railway’s unit since 2016, now faces an uncertain future.

During his visit to the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, Vaishnaw responded to inquiries from the press regarding the suspension of the Madurai land acquisition unit, effective from 1 January 2025. This unit had been established to aid the project’s land acquisition. Vaishnaw stated, “State Government gave it in writing that they don’t want this project,” although he did not provide further details on the state’s reasoning behind this decision.

#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: On scrapping of Madurai–Thoothukudi BG line, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says, "State Government gave it in writing that they don't want this project…" pic.twitter.com/5UfBTA4UEA

— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2025

Notably, Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi, also the DMK’s deputy general secretary, had previously championed the project in Parliament, advocating for its implementation.

The BG railway line, approved in the 2011-12 period, was intended to enhance transport links to underserved areas such as Vilathikulam, Pudur, and Nagalapuram. It also aimed to provide a dedicated cargo train route to Thoothukudi Port to facilitate nationwide goods movement.

At an estimated cost of ₹1,875 crore, the project was envisioned as an alternative to the existing Madurai–Thoothukudi line, which passes through Vanchi Maniyachi and Kovilpatti. Construction began in 2016, and by March 2022, an 18-km stretch between Milavittan and Melmarudur was completed and cleared for operation.

However, land acquisition for the remaining sections, from Melmarudur to Thiruparankundram, moved slowly, with only 35–40 percent of the required land acquired. The 2023–24 interim budget had allocated ₹100 crore for the project, but this was slashed to ₹18.72 crore in the general budget, raising concerns about the project’s future. Southern Railway officials stated that they are awaiting further updates on the discontinuation of the project from the Railway Board.

BJP Slams DMK

In a strong statement, BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai criticized the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government for its alleged inefficiency and opposition to development projects. Highlighting the recent announcement by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Annamalai accused the state government of being a roadblock to progress.

The Union Railway Minister clarified to the media that the proposed railway line connecting Madurai and Tuticorin via Aruppukkottai has been scrapped due to lack of cooperation from the Tamil Nadu government. The project required the acquisition of approximately 870.98 hectares of land, but the state government managed to acquire only 74.87 hectares, less than 10% of the required area.

Annamalai pointed out that this is not an isolated incident, as out of the 3,389 hectares of land required for various railway projects across Tamil Nadu, only 26% has been acquired under the DMK administration. He criticized the slow pace of land acquisition, calling it a hindrance to the state’s economic growth, particularly for the people of Aruppukkottai and surrounding regions.

Taking to Twitter, Annamalai remarked that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is steering the nation toward achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India), the DMK government is dragging Tamil Nadu backward.

The BJP Tamil Nadu unit has announced a protest against the DMK government’s decision to scrap the new railway line project. The demonstration, involving residents of Virudhunagar district, is scheduled to take place on January 20, 2025.

“This haphazard approach of the DMK government is unacceptable. The people of Tamil Nadu deserve better governance and faster progress,” Annamalai stated, adding that the BJP will stand with the people to demand accountability and push for development.

While our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi aims to propel the country forward in the 5th gear towards the goals of Viksit Bharat, the DMK Govt in Tamil Nadu appears to be driving the state backwards.

Our Honorable Railway Minister Thiru @AshwiniVaishnaw clarified to the media…

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) January 11, 2025

(With Inputs From TNIE)

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The post “State Govt Gave It In Writing That They Don’t Want This Project”: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Says DMK Govt Opposed Broad-gauge Rail Line Between Madurai-Thoothukudi appeared first on The Commune.

Ezhumbur, the historic name for Chennai’s Egmore station, was spotlighted in the Lok Sabha as Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized its redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Responding to DMK MP Tamilachi Thangapandian’s concerns, Vaishnaw hailed Ezhumbur’s transformation, stating it would soon become a prime attraction in Chennai, blending its legacy with modern upgrades.

During the ongoing Winter Session of the Lok Sabha, DMK MP Tamilachi Thangapandian raised concerns about restoring and redeveloping railway stations in Chennai under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.  

Speaking in Parliament, Thangapandian highlighted the need for updates on redevelopment efforts, particularly in her constituency. She stated, “I would like to the minister through you sir regarding the Amrit Bharat station scheme. The ministry has announced 1324 stations which have been identified for redevelopment including 77 stations in the state of Tamil Nadu. I’d like to ask the Hon’ble Minister what has been the update with respect to these railway stations in our state, especially I have given representation to my constituency which is Saidapet station as well as the redevelopment work of Chennai Egmore.”

In response, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw provided an update on the station redevelopment programme, emphasizing the significant scale of the initiative. He noted, “The supplementary is actually not related to the main question. But still, I would like to point out that the Hon’ble Prime Minister has really focused on the transformation of Indian Railways, and as a part of that, one of the major programmes we have taken up is the redevelopment of 1,300 railway stations. And at this point in time, this is the world’s largest station redevelopment programme, and nowhere in the world has anybody taken up the redevelopment of such a large number of stations in a network which is continuously operating.”  

Focusing on Chennai Egmore station, Vaishnaw remarked, “The Chennai Egmore, I would like to pronounce it as Chennai Ezhumbur, is one of the Amrit Bharat stations and it is developing very well. I have visited that twice and the design and the enthusiasm of the officers working on that project is really amazing. I can say that it will be one of the stations which will become a prime attraction in the city of Chennai. Regarding other stations, Hon’ble MP can always meet me and discuss the details.”

I would prefer calling it as "Chennai Ezhumbur" to Egmore Station.

Hon Minister of Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnav, to a question raised by Shrimati Dr Sumathi MP, regarding the status of upgrade of Egmore Railway Station, under Amrit Bharat scheme. pic.twitter.com/h7SnJObZoU

— Ethirajan Srinivasan (@Ethirajans) December 12, 2024

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Amid global turmoil and geopolitical tensions, the world hopes India will be a bright spot. One key reason for this is the country’s growth story, which is being driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s four-pillar strategy, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on 6 December 2024.

Delivering the keynote address at the NDTV Indian of The Year, Ashwini Vaishnaw, who holds the Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology portfolios, said: “It is not a coincidence that we are growing at a sustained rate of 6-8 per cent.” “PM Modi’s considered thought process and a clearly laid out plan, which rests on four pillars, are behind India’s consistent growth and moderate inflation,” Union Minister Vaishnaw said as he explained PM Modi’s four-pillar strategy.

Elaborating on the first pillar of investments, the Minister said India’s capital expenditure has grown from roughly ₹3.5 lakh crore 10 years ago to ₹11 lakh crore in the current fiscal, which is “humongous and unheard of in Independent India”. “This is leading to productivity improvement and employment growth in practically every sector. Airports have doubled and 31,000 km of railway lines have been constructed, which is more than Germany’s entire network. In the last year alone, 5,300 km of railway lines have been built, more than the network of Switzerland. AIIMS and IITs have also been doubled in the past ten years,” Ashwini Vaishnaw pointed out.

Speaking about the democratisation of e-payments and how even street vendors use them, the Union Minister cited an example, and said he was asked by a man from “one of the richest countries” at an international forum since India has moved so far ahead, when does it plan to do something for other nations that have been left behind. “So, the feeling now is that India is a leader in several fields of technology, unlike the past, when it used to be a follower,” Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

On innovation and manufacturing, the Union Minister said India has 1.2 lakh startups, up from 300-400 ten years ago, and over 100 unicorns, which make the country one of the world’s top three startup ecosystems. The ‘Make In India’ scheme, he said, has impacted everything from the engineering goods sector to the defence sector. The third pillar of inclusive growth, Vaishnaw, said it was very important to address the economic inequality that arose because of the policies which were followed for 50-60 years. He said PM Modi made inclusive growth an integral part of every policy and this benefited everyone, especially those at the bottom of the pyramid.

“As many as 54 crore bank accounts were opened, half of which are held by women. The number is significant because the entire population of Europe is 45 crore. So, bringing a population that is higher than the population of Europe into the banking system was an unimaginable task but it was made possible,” the Minister pointed out.

“Nearly 4 crore people have got new houses and the cooking habits of 11 crore people have changed to gas — the entire population of Japan is 11 crore, Germany’s population is 8 crore. The Prime Minister’s inclusive policies have benefited more people than the population of many countries,” he said. Simplification, the Railways Minister said, was brought about by policies like getting rid of colonial laws that have no relevance now.

“India’s telecom sector was regulated using a law from 1885 – the Telegraph Act. As many as 1,500 laws have been removed from the statute books. New laws have been made. Steps were also taken towards compliance reduction – for instance, getting permission for a telecom tower earlier took 217 days on average, which has been reduced to seven days because of a reform brought in by PM Modi in 2021. Even among these, 89 per cent are such that you get the permissions the moment you press the ‘Enter’ button,” he said.

Ashwini Vaishnaw said the scale and scope of work has expanded and PM Modi is focused on the poor and the middle class. “Because of all this, we can say with a high degree of confidence that India will continue to grow at 6-8 per cent real growth, 10-14 per cent nominal growth and a very moderate inflation for the coming five years. That’s the reason why when there is anti-incumbency across the world, a vibrant and vocal democracy like India has elected a government and a Prime Minister for three consecutive terms for the first time. This is because people have seen a change and transformation in their lives,” he added.

-IANS

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Union Minister for Electronics, IT, and Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said the country’s AI mission is advancing with strong collaborations among industry, government, and academia.

In a post on X, Vaishnaw said he met Meta’s Chief AI Scientist Dr Yann LeCun and discussed the country’s potential in AI and skilling the youth. “Met @ylecun of Meta to discuss Bharat’s AI potential. Our AI mission is advancing with strong collaborations among industry, government, and academia: GenAI Centre of Excellence (CoE) with IIT Jodhpur and Meta, and YuvAI Skilling with AICTE and Meta to train 1,00,000 students on LLM (large language models),” the minister said.

LeCun said it was “a pleasure discussing the important role Bharat plays today and can play tomorrow in the ecosystem of AI open platforms”. On Friday, Meta announced a strategic collaboration with IndiaAI at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), including the establishment of the Center for Generative AI called ‘Shrijan’ at IIT Jodhpur and the launch of the “AI for Skilling and Capacity Building” initiative, in partnership with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Meta has committed to investing up to Rs 7.5 crore over the next three years to ensure the successful establishment and operation of the centre.

Additional Secretary, MeitY, Abhishek Singh, said the government is supporting the vision of AI innovation, skilling and technological advancement to drive inclusive growth under the ‘IndiaAI’ initiative. “By fostering a culture of open-source innovation in AI, advancing research and skill development in emerging technologies, we are bridging the talent gap and ensuring that our youth are equipped to lead in the AI revolution, ultimately securing India’s position as a global leader in responsible development and contributing to a robust AI ecosystem,” said Singh. According to Meta India’s Vice President and Head of Public Policy, Shivnath Thukral, they are committed to nurturing an ecosystem where indigenous solutions can flourish.

–IANS

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On 9 September 2024, Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed that HP Inc and Padget Electronics have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to produce HP laptops, personal computers, and All-in-One PCs at a new facility in Tamil Nadu.

Vaishnaw, who also serves as the Union Minister for Railways and IT, described this development as a significant achievement for the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which is a key component of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “I am very happy to share with you that HP Inc and Padget Electronics have signed an MOU today for manufacturing HP laptops, personal computers and all-in-ones at a factory in Tamil Nadu. This is a major success for the PLI scheme under Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s Make in India program… This electronics manufacturing industry employs about 10 lakh people in the entire country and today it has emerged as a major exporting industry out of India. Initially, it will employ about 1500 persons and as production increases the employment will also increase. The first laptop out of this factory will be shipped in Feb 2025.”

HP India partners with Padget Electronics to boost laptop manufacturing in India.

20 lakh units/year by 2025
3 lakh sq ft facility in Chennai will create many job opportunities. pic.twitter.com/ivj6wnSm0O

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) September 9, 2024

Notably, Dixon Technologies is set to produce laptops and computers for HP at a new plant. This development is a significant boost to India’s Aatmanirbhar initiative, as HP and Dixon Technologies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to manufacture these products locally. The establishment of this facility is also expected to create job opportunities for 1,500 people.

However, as is often the case, Sun News, a mouthpiece for the DMK, began promoting the narrative that the HP laptop manufacturing facility was established due to the DMK’s efforts. This narrative was presented without mentioning the fact that memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the BJP led central government and Padget Electronics.

#BREAKING | தமிழ்நாட்டில் லேப்டாப் தயாரிக்கும் தொழிற்சாலையை தொடங்குகிறது HP நிறுவனம்#SunNews | #HPLaptop | #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/4vhhQfbQaq

— Sun News (@sunnewstamil) September 9, 2024

The Dravidian stocks further propagated this narrative using hashtags like #DravidianModel and #MKStalin across social media.

#DravidianModel #MKStalinGovernment

தமிழ்நாட்டில் லேப்டாப் தயாரிக்கும் தொழிற்சாலையை தொடங்குகிறது HP நிறுவனம்.#MKStalinEra | #HPLaptop | #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/9j9YxGaSNC

— Gopinathan Vijayaraman (@gopinathvijay91) September 9, 2024

தமிழ்நாட்டில் லேப்டாப் தயாரிக்கும் தொழிற்சாலையை தொடங்குகிறது HP நிறுவனம்#DravidianModel #HPLapTop pic.twitter.com/rEUtwIEsYD

— I-N-D-I-A Vinoth DMK (@ItsMeVinoth84) September 9, 2024

தமிழ்நாட்டில் லேப்டாப் தயாரிக்கும் தொழிற்சாலையை தொடங்குகிறது HP நிறுவனம் pic.twitter.com/BoHAkPSHt5

— Gandhi Parivaar (@Gandhi_Parivaar) September 9, 2024

தமிழ்நாட்டில் லேப்டாப் தயாரிக்கும் தொழிற்சாலையை தொடங்குகிறது HP நிறுவனம்! pic.twitter.com/K3XF78KLxb

— Prabakaran Mani (@MPrabakar7) September 9, 2024

HP, Padget to produce laptops, computers at new facility in Tamil Nadu pic.twitter.com/f9zr1eKV7j

— மு.குணசேகரன் M.Gunasekaran (@GunasekaranMu) September 9, 2024

https://twitter.com/ShanmugamB18946/status/1833357511375605908

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The post Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Announces New HP Production Facility In TN; DMK Mouthpiece Sun News Fails To Give Centre Credit appeared first on The Commune.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin today said there was a “drastic reduction” in the Southern Railways budget for 2024-2025, sparking a swift rebuttal from Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and state BJP chief K. Annamalai. The BJP leaders highlighted the record allocation, seven times more than during UPA. They blamed the state government for delays in land acquisition as a critical hindrance to project progress.

In his letter to the Railway Minister, Stalin criticised the reduced budget for Southern Railways in the 2024-2025 regular budget compared to the Interim Budget. He highlighted that the Interim Budget allocated ₹976.1 crore for new lines and ₹2,214.4 crore for doubling existing lines. In comparison, the revised allocation in the regular budget presented on July 23 fell to ₹301.3 crore for new lines and ₹1,928.8 crore for doubling lines.

The CM, on his X official account stated, “Hon’ble @AshwiniVaishnaw, we are deeply concerned about the significant reduction of ₹674.8 cr for new line projects and ₹285.64 cr for doubling projects in Southern Railways as per the 2024-25 budget. This will severely impact vital projects in Tamil Nadu. I urge your immediate intervention to ensure adequate funds and prevent delays in these crucial developments.”

Hon'ble @AshwiniVaishnaw, we are deeply concerned about the significant reduction of ₹674.8 cr for new line projects and ₹285.64 cr for doubling projects in Southern Railways as per the 2024-25 budget.

This will severely impact vital projects in Tamil Nadu. I urge your… pic.twitter.com/R9Dn3CDxBN

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) August 19, 2024

Railway Minister Responds

Railway Minister Vaishnaw refuted Stalin’s claims on X platform, stating that the NDA government had allocated a record ₹6,362 crore for railway development in Tamil Nadu, more than seven times the average annual allocation of ₹879 crore during the UPA era. He also pointed out that delays in land acquisition were impacting project progress. Vaishnaw urged the Tamil Nadu government to expedite land acquisition, promising the central government would enhance efforts to advance railway development if state cooperation improved.

He replied, “Would like to bring the following facts to the notice of Hon’ble CM Thiru @mkstalin NDA government has allocated a record amount of ₹6,362 Crore for developing railways in Tamil Nadu. This amount is more than 7 times the average allocation done in the UPA era (only ₹879 Crore per year). In our constitutional structure, land is a state subject. Projects can be executed speedily if only your government supports us in land acquisition. Only 807 Ha land has been acquired so far against requirement of 2,749 Ha land. We seek your intervention in land acquisition. From our side, we promise that if you take one step, we will take two steps for development of railways in Tamil Nadu.”

Would like to bring the following facts to the notice of Hon'ble CM Thiru @mkstalin

NDA government has allocated a record amount of Rs 6,362 Crore for developing railways in Tamil Nadu.

This amount is more than 7 times the average allocation done in UPA era (only Rs 879 Crore… https://t.co/wLh86JREmN

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) August 19, 2024

It should be noted that, before Vaishnaw’s rebuttal, Annamalai responded to Stalin’s criticisms by clarifying the distribution of Southern Railway divisions and highlighting that not all of these divisions are located in Tamil Nadu. He highlighted that while the budget for doubling works in Southern Railways might have been reduced, Tamil Nadu-specific projects for doubling received an increased allocation of ₹1,696 crore in the revised budget, compared to ₹1,437 crore in the Interim Budget—an increase of ₹259 crore. He also pointed out a net rise in ₹65 crore for gauge conversion projects and a significant boost in funding for Track Renewals, rising from ₹1,240 crore to ₹1,755 crore.

Annamalai raised specific queries regarding land acquisition for new railway lines in Tamil Nadu. He questioned the status of land acquisition for the Madurai-Tuticorin line, noting that only 74.87 hectares of the required 870.98 hectares had been acquired as of December 2023. He also asked for updates on the land acquisition for the Tindivanam-Tiruvannamalai line, which has been ongoing since 2010.

Annamalai concluded by contrasting the current budget allocations with the average annual outlay of ₹879 crore during the 2009-2014 DMK-Congress regime, emphasising that the substantial increase to ₹6,362 crore in the current year underscores significant progress in funding for Tamil Nadu’s railway infrastructure.

Annamalai, via his official X account, stated, “We bring to the attention of TN CM Thiru @mkstalin the following: Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Palakkad, Salem, and Thiruvananthapuram—these are divisions under Southern Railway; not every division falls under TN.

The budget for doubling works for Southern Railways could be reduced, but the TN-specific projects for doubling works have received an increased allocation of ₹1696 Crore in the revised project. The interim budget allocation for TN-specific projects for doubling works was ₹1437 Crores. There is an increase in allocation of ₹259 Crores.  Notably, the budget for gauge conversion has seen a net increase of 65 Crores for TN-specific projects under Southern Railways. Tiruchchirappalli-Nagore-Karaikal gauge conversion work in TN has received an increased allocation of ₹135 Crore.”

“The overall budget for Southern Railways for Track Renewals (which includes track repair, replacement, and maintenance works) has increased to ₹1755 Crores from ₹1240 Crores. Most of these Track Renewal projects are allocated to divisions under Southern Railways in Tamil Nadu, ensuring the safety and reliability of our railway network. While the budgeting for New Lines has been reduced for divisions in TN under Southern Railway, there has been a substantial increase in allocation for Doubling works, Gauge Conversion, and Track Renewals.

However, we seek the following clarification from TN CM Thiru @mkstalin :

• For the Madurai-Tuticorin via Aruppukkottai (143.5 km) New Line, approximately 870.98 Ha. of Land is required, and as of December 2023, only 74.87 Ha of land was acquired. We understand that the budget for the new line is allocated based on the progress made on land acquisition. Can the TN Govt clarify the status of land acquisition?
• Land acquisition for a new line between Tindivanam and Tiruvannamalai has been ongoing since 2010. Has the Land acquisition been completed?

A similar question arises for other new railway lines where the budgets are cut, and the DMK Government is duty-bound to answer.” He added.

“The average annual budget outlay to TN was just ₹879 crore per year during 2009-14 during the DMK Congress Regime. However, allocations to TN in all streams have increased significantly over the last ten years, and this year’s railway budget of ₹6362 Crore to TN stands as a testament to this.” He further added

We bring to the attention of TN CM Thiru @mkstalin the following: Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Palakkad, Salem, and Thiruvananthapuram – these are divisions under Southern Railway; not every division falls under TN.

The budget for doubling works for Southern Railways… https://t.co/jX5XyQEFeU

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) August 19, 2024

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The post Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw & TN BJP President Annamalai School TN CM Stalin Over Southern Railways Budget Allocation appeared first on The Commune.