September 13, 2010
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s successful trip to north Bengal
On her recent visit to north Bengal, Railway Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee announced many railway development projects for the region. “Give us a little more space to set foot here. I am not a fair weather friend. I am consistently working for north Bengal,†the Trinamool supremo told a railway programme in New Jalpaiguri near here. “Whatever I have announced today I will give more to north Bengal,†she said. She laid the foundation stone of a rail axle factory for which Rs 300 crore was sanctioned, announced a number of trains and the beginning of gauge conversion work for two lines among other projects. She said that the Railways was thinking of partnering SAIL to help accelerate the axle project which would generate employment for a few thousand youths. There was 100 acre for the project which would “address the future needs of north Bengalâ€, she said. Noting that she planned to convert north Bengal with its natural beauty into Switzerland, she said she was also trying her best to improve communication facilities there. Ms. Banerjee said she was against dividing the state into north and south and was trying to join the two through development. She also said that she would shortly visit Darjeeling and talk to the people for improving the services of the existing toy train, a major tourist attraction. “I want the Darjeeling problem to be solved soon,†she said. When we spoke to someone in North Bengal he responded, “There is only one true leader in West Bengal and that is Mamata Banerjee.â€
