CHENNAI: Persisting with their pro-active approach, newly-elected DMK MPs are directly approaching various Central government authorities to take up pending and new projects in their constituencies.
Central Chennai MP Dayanidhi Maran, who was recently in the news in taking up language-related issues in the railways and the more recent postal department exam, on Tuesday met Southern Railway general manager Rahul Jain at his office here and impressed upon him to expedite long-pending railway projects in city and suburbs.
Maran stressed on completing the work on two railway over-bridges in Chennai- one near Elephant gate and another at Villivakkam, which have been hanging fire for quite some time now.
The DMK MP was also on a 'Swachh' drive, pleading with the GM to build toilets in all railway stations in the suburban network. "I emphasised to build toilets at all railway stations, particularly suburban stations on the MRTS (Mass Rapid Transit System from Chennai Beach to Velachery) network," Maran told reporters after the meeting.
On the railway over-bridges, he said the GM had assured him that the work will be started in three months on both the bridges and also assured to do the needful on providing toilets. This should come as big relief for suburban commuters in Chennai.
Maran said he had also urged the Southern Railway GM to ensure that suburban electric trains on the Beach-Chengelpet section and on MRTS network are available every 2.50 minutes during peak hours as it was in the Chennai Metro.
Similarly, at Chennai Egmore railway terminal, Maran pressed for taking action to make its escalators function. "I have already allotted funds from my MPLAD scheme for it," he added.
To a question, Maran replied that DMK was all for restoration of democracy, peace and human rights in Kashmir. Terming the house arrest of J and K leaders as 'murder of democracy', Maran explained this was the reason for the DMK's demonstration in New Delhi on August 22, just as his party had opposed the Emergency in the past.
