Railways to stay with Trinamool Congress, hopes Mamata

Kolkata, May 18: Hinting that the Trinamool Congress will retain the Railways portfolio, Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday, May 17, said that her departure from the ministry would not affect its development.

"After my resignation, the Ministry of Railways will stay with the Trinamool Congress hopefully and I will help my colleague in its development", Banerjee, who will be resigning shortly to take over as West Bengal Chief Minister, told at the program to inaugrate a number of projects.

"There is no reason to think that the Railways will suffer. Bengal and the Railways will develop together. From today Bengal and Railways have merged together," Banerjee said at the programme.

"I have made a 'Vision 20-20' and there will be no problem for my colleague who takes over as the Minister of Railways. He will only have to supervise the projects," she said.

Claiming that she had given 60 per cent funds for the development of the railways and over 150 trains in the budget, Banerjee said, "Nothing will stop. Only criticism doesn't work. One needs to have a will and dedication to work."

Banerjee inaugurated a number of new trains like the Santragachi-Tirupati Superfast Express, Jhargram-Dhanbad MEMU, Howrah-Uluberia local, Howrah Bandel-Bandel local and Bankura-Rainagar passenger services to Mathnasipur.

There was also a formal inauguration for public information for the Shalimar-Visakhapattanam Superfast Weekly Express and the Shalimar-Puri Superfast Weekly Express.

Banerjee laid the foundation stones for a number of new lines including Rainagar-Mathnasipur, Raigunj-Dalkhola new line, Chalsa-Naxalbari, Pujali-Uluberia, Digha-Jaleswar and Bowaichandi-Arambagh.

Banerjee inaugurated the doubling of the Palasi-Jiagunj and Gokulpur-Kharagpur and third line of Sainthia-Tarapith, Nabadwipdham-Patuli and Bandel-Bainchi and Jn gauge conversion of Aluabari Rd-Siliguri. She also laid the foundation stone of the Rabindra Museum at Howrah.

PTI