Thiruvananthapuram | Senior BJP leader P K Krishnadas on Sunday defended the Railway Board's decision to bifurcate the Palakkad division and transfer stations such as Mangaluru to Mysuru, saying the move would help boost development in Keralam.
Krishnadas has served as Chairman of the Passenger Amenities Committee, an advisory body under the Indian Railways.
Responding to reporters' questions, Krishnadas said the Railways maintained a single financial account and that any revenue loss to the Palakkad division following the bifurcation would be reflected as an increase in revenue for the Mysuru division.
"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," he said.
He said people in Keralam need not be worried about the bifurcation.
Krishnadas said the main concern being raised was whether passengers in the division would face any difficulties following the bifurcation.
"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," he said.
Asked about the statewide hartal called by the BJP in 2007 when the Salem division was formed by bifurcating the Palakkad division under the UPA government at the Centre, Krishnadas said the two situations were different.
He said creating the Salem division substantially reduced the Palakkad division's revenue.
"Based on that, the funds allocated to Keralam were reduced because that was the criterion followed by the UPA government at the time," he said.
He said the situation in the Railways was different under the BJP-led government.
"Today, that is not the case. Whatever each division needs is allocated. Whatever passengers need in each state, whatever is required for development, is provided. The concept of development under the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is different from that of the Congress," he said.
