Thiruvananthapuram: Aryadan Mohammed, Kerala minister for railways, Tuesday said he was disappointed as the state was expecting to get more than what was offered in the railway budget presented in the Lok Sabha.
"Early this year when the railway minister arrived in the state, we presented our demands. We were hopeful but now we are disappointed," said Mohammed.
Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, in his maiden budget for his ministry, offered, among others, two new express and three passenger trains to Kerala, a skill development institute at Kollam, and extension of three mainline electrical multiple units trains and two long distance trains that already operate in the state.
Union Minister of State (independent charge) Consumer Affairs, Food and Public. Distribution KV Thomas, who hails from Kerala, said the expectations from the rail budget were more but it has not happened that way.
"There are a few problems in Kerala. We cannot have more trains because the doubling of railway lines is not progressing at the pace it should," Thomas said.
"The much delayed Palakkad coach factory found a mention in the speech and we expect ... the factory becomes a reality," said Thomas. The budget allocated Rs 53.87 crore for the coach factory.
PTI
