Trichy, a central hub of Tamil Nadu, has been denied funds for the rapid implementation of a metro rail, MDMK principal secretary and Trichy MP Durai Vaiko said in Parliament. Though detailed feasibility reports and project reports have been prepared for the Trichy metro, there are no provisions in the budget for its implementation, Vaiko stated. He noted that while the budget has allocated Rs 249.32 billion to MRTS and metro projects, it is disheartening that the second phase of the Chennai metro and the much-anticipated Madurai and Coimbatore metro projects have not been mentioned. In his speech criticising the Union budget, Vaiko questioned if the lack of funding for metro proposals in Tamil Nadu was due to the BJP not winning a single Lok Sabha constituency in the state. He further stated that the Union budget has neglected Tamil Nadu and overlooked the interests of farmers, youth, the poor, and women. The long-pending demand for a new railway line from Thanjavur to Madurai via Gandarvakottai and Pudukottai has also been ignored, Vaiko added. (Source: TOI)