Tue Apr 01 14:55:29 UTC 2025: ## Southern Railway’s “Pink Book” Delay Sparks Outrage

**Chennai, April 1, 2025** – The delayed release of the Southern Railway’s annual budget estimates, known as the “pink book,” has drawn sharp criticism from railway activists and commuters. The detailed document, usually published shortly after the national railway budget announcement, outlines planned projects and expenditures for the fiscal year. This year’s delay, almost two months after the budget’s presentation, has left the public in the dark about specific allocations and projects for the eight divisions covering Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

While the national railway budget saw a significant increase in allocation – from ₹879 crore in 2014 to ₹6,626 crore in 2025 – activists point out a lack of new infrastructure projects. Despite the announcement of 22 new track projects, only a handful, mostly extensions of projects initiated between 2009 and 2014, have been implemented. The Dhanushkodi-Rameswaram line, initially proposed but later rejected due to environmental concerns, is cited as an example.

P. Edward Jeni of the Kanyakumari District Railway Users’ Association and R. Pandiaraja, a railway activist, both expressed concern over the lack of transparency and the absence of new initiatives in the 2025-26 budget. They urged elected representatives to address this issue in the Lok Sabha. A senior Southern Railway official confirmed that the “pink book” has not been released to any of the 18 railway zones. The reasons behind the delay remain unclear.

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