1 week ago
BJP leader defends Palakkad bifurcation, promises improved passenger facilities
The Railway Board has decided to split the Palakkad railway division.
Some stations, including Mangaluru, will become part of the Mysuru division.
BJP leader P K Krishnadas said people in Kerala should not be worried.
He said the Indian Railways uses one financial account, so money gained by one division can balance money lost by another.
He also said passengers would not lose services.
In fact, he promised better facilities within three years.
Krishnadas said this decision is different from the 2007 creation of the Salem division.
He argued that the earlier change reduced revenue counted for Kerala, while the current government provides funding based on development needs.
P K Krishnadas defended the Railway Board’s decision to bifurcate the Palakkad division and transfer stations such as Mangaluru to Mysuru.
He said the Indian Railways’ single financial account would ensure that revenue losses in one division would be offset by gains in another.
Krishnadas said passengers would retain existing facilities and receive significantly improved services within three years.
He rejected comparisons with the 2007 creation of the Salem division, saying that move reduced Palakkad’s revenue and Kerala’s allocations.
He said the BJP-led government allocates funds according to the needs of railway divisions, passengers and states.
- Who
- Senior BJP leader P K Krishnadas, a former Chairman of the Passenger Amenities Committee, commented on the decision.
- What
- He defended the bifurcation of the Palakkad railway division and the transfer of stations such as Mangaluru to the Mysuru division.
- Where
- The remarks were reported from Thiruvananthapuram; the decision affects railway divisions serving Kerala and neighboring areas.
- When
- Sunday, August 23.
- Why
- Krishnadas said the bifurcation would support development, preserve passenger facilities and lead to better services.
Bifurcation supporters
Concerns raised by opponents
Impact on development and funding
Bifurcation supporters
P K Krishnadas said the change would help development and that the Indian Railways’ single financial account would offset any revenue loss in Palakkad through gains elsewhere.
Concerns raised by opponents
The concerns referenced in the report focus on whether the reorganization could reduce revenue associated with Palakkad and affect funding or facilities for Kerala, as happened after the 2007 Salem division split.
Passenger services
Bifurcation supporters
Krishnadas said passengers would not lose facilities and would receive substantially improved services within three years.
Concerns raised by opponents
The main concern identified in the report is whether passengers in the affected division would face difficulties after the bifurcation.
Key facts
- Decision
- The Railway Board decided to bifurcate the Palakkad division.
- Station transfer
- Stations such as Mangaluru are to be transferred to the Mysuru division.
- Financial system
- Krishnadas said the Railways maintains a single financial account.
- Passenger facilities
- He said passengers would receive facilities many times better within three years.
- Earlier restructuring
- The Salem division was created by bifurcating the Palakkad division in 2007.
- Government comparison
- Krishnadas said the UPA-era restructuring reduced Palakkad’s revenue and Kerala’s allocations, unlike the current system.
Quotes
P K Krishnadas
Senior BJP leader and Chairman of the Indian Railways Passenger Amenities Committee
“Is the Mysuru division a part of America? Isn’t it part of the Indian Railways? If there is a loss here, it will increase on the other side. All of this is income for the Indian Railways.”
theprint.in
“We are telling you—not only will passengers not be deprived of facilities, but within the next three years, they will get facilities many times better than what they have now.”
theprint.in
Sources
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