Union Minister of Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal and PMK leader and Dharmapuri MP Anbumani Ramadoss sharing a lighter moment during the launch of new rail project work in Dharmapuri on Monday.N. BashkaranN_Bashkaran
Union Railways and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday inaugurated the works for the 36-km Dharmapuri-Morappur rail link project, costing Rs. 358.95 crore. The Dharmapuri – Morappur rail line was in existence from 1906 to 1941 before being decommissioned.
Unveiling a plaque for the project, Mr. Goyal countered the Opposition’s remark that the project would never come to fruition....
more... He summoned the project officer of Dharmapuri-Morappur line Sudhakar Rao to the stage, and introduced him as the official in-charge of the project. “The project has already begun today. Since this is an old line, the Railways was in possession of land for 30 km. The remaining track would need only 44 h.a. and I request the people to give us the land,” he said.
The Minister, who is also Bharatiya Janata Party’s election in-charge for Tamil Nadu, accused the Opposition of being anti-national. He said the nation was proud of the Central Reserve Police Force jawans killed in a terror strike in Pulwama, two of whom hailed from Tamil Nadu, and also the Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. “[Prime Minister] Modi will not allow anyone to cast an evil eye on India, and Modi will wreak 10 times more damage on anyone who attacks us. You and your families are safe under Modi,” he said.
Mr. Goyal claimed that the Opposition was “talking the language of Pakistan”. “They are questioning our armed forces, they are questioning our Air Force, they are also questioning our railway engineers,” he said. He was alluding to the criticism by Congress president Rahul Gandhi of technical snag in Vande Bharat Express.
Pattali Makkal Katchi Dharmapuri MP Anbumani Ramadoss said the Dharmapuri-Morappur line was the 78-year-old dream of the people. With this, the people of Dharmapuri would be linked to the State capital directly. “Now, it was a 110 km travel from Morappur to Salem and from Salem to Dharmapuri. Once the rail link was established, it would be a 36 km distance from Morappur to Dharmapuri,” he said.