July 8, 2011
West Bengal CM inaugurates a bouquet of packages
Kolkata, July 8: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee flagged off Bangaon-Ranaghat-Shantipur EMU Local, Kolkata-Agra Weekly Express, Sealdah-Bangaon EMU Local and Sealdah-Dankuni EMU Local. The evening rolled with choir rendering Rabindra Sangeet followed by young girls presenting dance items.
Ms. Banerjee inaugurated Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) to be installed at three station of Eastern Railway’s Howrah division. These will be installed at Howrah Station, Barddhaman and Bandel station respectively. However, 100 ATVMs are planned to be installed in phases at 21 stations (Sealdah-11 and Howrah-10 of Eastern Railway. However, owing to time constraints and hectic schedule of the Chief Minister the entire event was planned taking the help of the technology and was done at a click of the button. The live footages of the trains would flash on the huge LCD screens as soon as Ms. Banerjee would flag off the trains.
Huge number of people gathered at the Jatin Das Park (Hajra Crossing) waiting with bated breath to listen to their beloved ‘didi’ and as the evening progressed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee greeted them with the news of a number of new trains.
However, the attraction of the evening remained the launching of new fibre metro tickets which will replace the existing the paper ones. Tokens are reusable as each can be used approximately 10,000 times. However, these token are valid for 30-minutes from the time of purchase at the entry and 90-minutes at the exit from the time of validation. Maximum of seven tokens can be issued to a passenger.
Speaking on this occasion Ms. Banerjee said, “Let me assure you that we are not parting with the railways ministry at the centre as this is the only one union portfolio we have and we shall retain the office. There will be many more trains coming to Bengal”. Ms. Banerjee expressed her happiness that barely completing 50-days in office and she has already given green signal to nearly 72-projects. “I have always believed in the philosophy of where there is will, there is a way. Many ask me how it is possible to complete so many projects in a stipulated time. Well, I have always taken up a project after analyzing it from all aspects and even allocation of funds”, smiled Ms. Banerjee.
A archive on Mahanayak Uttam Kumar was also inaugurated at the Mahanayak Uttam Kumar Metro Station previously Tollygunge Metro Station. The archive will house his belongings and miscellaneous items.
“We are introducing the new tickets and there are many more plans in the pipeline which will make commuting by metro trains smooth”, informed Ms. Banerjee. Referring to the on going work of the metro line at Joka-BBD Bagh route, she said that there will be many more new metro train routes on the anvil. “Infact, I have plans to extend the metro railway service outside Kolkata”, added Ms. Banerjee.
The ‘top-up’ of the Smart Card can be done from the SMC counter /nominated counters for this purpose in multiples of Rs 50/-. In this scheme the passenger will get an additional usage of five percent. (on the value of every Rs. 100, passenger can purchase tickets upto Rs 105/-.
The evening drew to a closure with Ms. Banerjee assuring the people of Bengal that the work will continue and Bengal will get more trains in future. “We are in talks to finalize a ‘Smart Card’ called ‘Go India’ that will enable people across the country to move freely.
AITMC NEWS BUREAU
