Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw declared a historic budgetary allocation on February 1 for Southern Railway, earmarking Rs 12,173 crore for the financial year 2024-25.

Notably, Tamil Nadu and Kerala stand out with record allocations of Rs 6,331 crore and Rs 2,744 crore, respectively.

Vaishnaw emphasized that the budgetary outlay for both Tamil Nadu and Kerala is seven times higher than the average allocated during the UPA regime from 2009 to 2014. This significant increase underscores the commitment to transforming rail infrastructure.

In a press briefing, Minister Vaishnaw highlighted that Tamil Nadu’s allocation of Rs 6,331 crore is a remarkable sevenfold increase compared to the UPA average of Rs 879 crore.

The state is witnessing extensive rail redevelopment initiatives, including the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and electrification of 98% of the rail network.

Similarly, Kerala‘s allocation of Rs 2,744 crore, seven times the UPA average of Rs 372 crore, demonstrates a commitment to transformative rail projects.