The railway minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, appears to have landed in major trouble over an advertisement in which she is shown modelling for a particular brand of rubber slippers (hawai chappals).
A full-page advertisement in a Bengali daily on Monday showed Ms Banerjee walking in her now-famous rubber slippers. The name of the brand — Ajanta Hawai — is mentioned clearly along with the one-line caption in Bengali: “drirpta padakshwep (firm and bright footsteps).”
The Left parties have sought a clarification from the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on the matter and are also looking into moving the Election Commission to examine if a breach of the law has taken place.
Sensing trouble, Ms Banerjee has directed her ministry to investigate how the advertisement appeared, and her close associates claimed that “Didi had no knowledge” of it. The railway ministry has ordered an inquiry, which will be conducted by the Railway Board member-secretary, Mr Shivaji Rakshit.
An FIR has also been lodged at the Parliament Street police station here against the footwear company for having used the minister’s picture without her prior consent. The PMO has sought further information from the ministry.
Showing posts with label Mamata Banerjee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mamata Banerjee. Show all posts
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Mamata may resign to focus on WB poll
Is the mercurial Trinamul Congress supremo, Ms Mamata Banerjee, contemplating resigning from the Union Cabinet to concentrate completely on next year’s Assembly elections in West Bengal?
Speculation has intensified about this after her party’s landslide victory in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections and its impressive showing in the civic polls across the rest of the state. She is likely to take a final call on this later this year, with the state election — which she is widely expected to win — likely to take place in early 2011.
But even if she resigns from the Manmohan Singh government, she will still remain a “trusted ally” of the Congress in the UPA for its full five-year term, and has no intention of relinquishing control over the railway ministry.
She has made it extremely clear that if she steps down, she would insist that her party retain the railway portfolio at the Centre. In her absence, either Mr Dinesh Trivedi or Mr Mukul Roy, both of whom are ministers of state at the Centre, are likely to be considered for the railway portfolio.
The sources close to Ms Banerjee said that “following criticism that she was not able to give adequate time to her ministerial duties in New Delhi, Didi intends to quit.
Speculation has intensified about this after her party’s landslide victory in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections and its impressive showing in the civic polls across the rest of the state. She is likely to take a final call on this later this year, with the state election — which she is widely expected to win — likely to take place in early 2011.
But even if she resigns from the Manmohan Singh government, she will still remain a “trusted ally” of the Congress in the UPA for its full five-year term, and has no intention of relinquishing control over the railway ministry.
She has made it extremely clear that if she steps down, she would insist that her party retain the railway portfolio at the Centre. In her absence, either Mr Dinesh Trivedi or Mr Mukul Roy, both of whom are ministers of state at the Centre, are likely to be considered for the railway portfolio.
The sources close to Ms Banerjee said that “following criticism that she was not able to give adequate time to her ministerial duties in New Delhi, Didi intends to quit.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Rail track blast kills 65, injures 200 in West Bengal
Sixty-five passengers of a Maharashtra-bound express train were killed early Friday and 200 injured in a suspected Maoist attack which led to derailment of 13 coaches that were hit by a goods train coming from the opposite direction.
The bodies of the passengers were removed from the mangled remains of the ill-fated coaches of the Howrah-Kurla Lokmanya Tilak Gyaneshwari Super Deluxe Express and the injured taken out with the help of gas cutters, a South Eastern Railway (SER) spokesman said.
“65 bodies have been recovered. The toll could go up,” West Bengal Home Secretary Samar Ghosh said.
The incident occurred at 1:30 am when the train was running between Khemasoli and Sardiya stations, about 135 k.m. from here, South Eastern Railway officials said.
'Fishplates were found removed': IGP
In Kolkata, Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Surojit Karpurokayastha said that according to preliminary investigation, fish plates were found removed at the derailment site.
Earlier, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said the derailment followed a blast apparently triggered by Maoists who are observing a ‘black week’
“We suspect Maoist hand behind the blast,” Member (Traffic) Railway Board Vivek Sahai said.
He said the driver of the train heard a loud explosion after which the train derailed. Railways are investigating if the tracks were tampered with, he said.
Five of the 13 derailed coaches fell on an adjacent track and were hit by a goods train coming from the opposite direction, Additional Superintendent of Police, Jhargram, Mukesh Kumar, said.
IAF choppers airlift injured
Indian Air Force helicopters were pressed into service at the accident spot to airlift some of the injured to the hospitals.
Ms. Banerjee, who reached the accident spot, said a patrol engine had passed through the area half an hour earlier, but the timing of the blast proved disastrous with a portion of the line being blown away.
She announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of each of the dead and Rs 1 lakh for the injured.
This is the second Maoist attack on civilians this month. Naxals had blown up a civilian bus in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on May 17, killing at least 36 people, including 12 Special Police Officers.
Five coaches hit by goods train
SER PRO Soumitra Majumdar said the train that was hit on Friday had 24 coaches. After the explosion, 13 including 10 sleeper coaches, derailed of which five were hit by the goods train coming on the opposite track.
An unreserved coach, the pantry car and luggage van also derailed, he said.
Passengers belongings lay strewn scattered on the tracks.
Angry passengers said the first signs of relief came only around 5 am, three-and-a-half hours after the incident.
Nine of the coaches which were not damaged in the blast took the injured and the other passengers to Kharagpur where they were admitted to hospital.
Anti-Maoist forces were at the spot and assisting the police and rescue personnel in extricating the bodies from four badly damaged sleeper coaches: S-5, S-6, S-7 and S-8.
West Bengal Government to bear cost of treatment
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee has asked State Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta to immediately rush to Sardiha, the site of the accident.
“I have been asked by the Chief Minister to rush to the accident site with six special rescue teams and three mobile ambulances,” Mr. Dasgupta told PTI before leaving for the accident spot on Friday morning.
The State government would bear the treatment cost of the injured passengers, Chief Minister’s secretariat sources said.
“State government has already rushed preliminary rescue teams with doctors and ambulances and more will follow,” the sources said.
Senior railway officials including Railway Board Chairman S.S. Khurana and DG RPF rushed to the spot.
A relief train left Kharagpur with a team of 12 doctors and 20 paramedics as also two doctors from the Kalaikunda airbase, the officials said.
Helplines
Helplines have been set up at Kharagpur — (0322) 255751 and 255735 and Howrah — (033) 26382217, besides a toll free number 10722.
Helplines have also been set up at Tatanagar (0657) 2290324, 2290074, 2290382, at Rourkela (0661) 2511155, Chakradharpur (06587) 238072 and Jharsuguda (06445) 270977.
“The S-5 and S-6 coaches bore the maximum brunt of the impact,” Palash Ganti, a passenger, said.
Ganti, who was travelling in the B1 coach, said when he looked out of the window he found that half of the coaches had derailed and a goods train on the opposite tracks hitting them.
“At first, we thought Maoists have attacked to loot the train. When the accident happened no RPF personnel were present on the train,” said another passenger.
The bodies of the passengers were removed from the mangled remains of the ill-fated coaches of the Howrah-Kurla Lokmanya Tilak Gyaneshwari Super Deluxe Express and the injured taken out with the help of gas cutters, a South Eastern Railway (SER) spokesman said.
“65 bodies have been recovered. The toll could go up,” West Bengal Home Secretary Samar Ghosh said.
The incident occurred at 1:30 am when the train was running between Khemasoli and Sardiya stations, about 135 k.m. from here, South Eastern Railway officials said.
'Fishplates were found removed': IGP
In Kolkata, Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Surojit Karpurokayastha said that according to preliminary investigation, fish plates were found removed at the derailment site.
Earlier, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said the derailment followed a blast apparently triggered by Maoists who are observing a ‘black week’
“We suspect Maoist hand behind the blast,” Member (Traffic) Railway Board Vivek Sahai said.
He said the driver of the train heard a loud explosion after which the train derailed. Railways are investigating if the tracks were tampered with, he said.
Five of the 13 derailed coaches fell on an adjacent track and were hit by a goods train coming from the opposite direction, Additional Superintendent of Police, Jhargram, Mukesh Kumar, said.
IAF choppers airlift injured
Indian Air Force helicopters were pressed into service at the accident spot to airlift some of the injured to the hospitals.
Ms. Banerjee, who reached the accident spot, said a patrol engine had passed through the area half an hour earlier, but the timing of the blast proved disastrous with a portion of the line being blown away.
She announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of each of the dead and Rs 1 lakh for the injured.
This is the second Maoist attack on civilians this month. Naxals had blown up a civilian bus in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on May 17, killing at least 36 people, including 12 Special Police Officers.
Five coaches hit by goods train
SER PRO Soumitra Majumdar said the train that was hit on Friday had 24 coaches. After the explosion, 13 including 10 sleeper coaches, derailed of which five were hit by the goods train coming on the opposite track.
An unreserved coach, the pantry car and luggage van also derailed, he said.
Passengers belongings lay strewn scattered on the tracks.
Angry passengers said the first signs of relief came only around 5 am, three-and-a-half hours after the incident.
Nine of the coaches which were not damaged in the blast took the injured and the other passengers to Kharagpur where they were admitted to hospital.
Anti-Maoist forces were at the spot and assisting the police and rescue personnel in extricating the bodies from four badly damaged sleeper coaches: S-5, S-6, S-7 and S-8.
West Bengal Government to bear cost of treatment
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee has asked State Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta to immediately rush to Sardiha, the site of the accident.
“I have been asked by the Chief Minister to rush to the accident site with six special rescue teams and three mobile ambulances,” Mr. Dasgupta told PTI before leaving for the accident spot on Friday morning.
The State government would bear the treatment cost of the injured passengers, Chief Minister’s secretariat sources said.
“State government has already rushed preliminary rescue teams with doctors and ambulances and more will follow,” the sources said.
Senior railway officials including Railway Board Chairman S.S. Khurana and DG RPF rushed to the spot.
A relief train left Kharagpur with a team of 12 doctors and 20 paramedics as also two doctors from the Kalaikunda airbase, the officials said.
Helplines
Helplines have been set up at Kharagpur — (0322) 255751 and 255735 and Howrah — (033) 26382217, besides a toll free number 10722.
Helplines have also been set up at Tatanagar (0657) 2290324, 2290074, 2290382, at Rourkela (0661) 2511155, Chakradharpur (06587) 238072 and Jharsuguda (06445) 270977.
“The S-5 and S-6 coaches bore the maximum brunt of the impact,” Palash Ganti, a passenger, said.
Ganti, who was travelling in the B1 coach, said when he looked out of the window he found that half of the coaches had derailed and a goods train on the opposite tracks hitting them.
“At first, we thought Maoists have attacked to loot the train. When the accident happened no RPF personnel were present on the train,” said another passenger.
Manmohan announces Rs 2 lakh solatium
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed grief over the death of Gyaneswari Express passengers and announces Rs 2 lakh to the relatives of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for each of those seriously injured.
At least 20 passengers were killed and 150 injured when suspected Maoists blasted rail tracks in West Midnapore district early Friday derailing 13 coaches of a Mumbai-bound express train which rammed into three bogies of a goods train.
At least 20 passengers were killed and 150 injured when suspected Maoists blasted rail tracks in West Midnapore district early Friday derailing 13 coaches of a Mumbai-bound express train which rammed into three bogies of a goods train.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Congress seeks 'adjustment' with Trinamool for Kolkata civic polls
Senior Congress leader and party in-charge of West Bengal K. Keshav Rao met Trinamool Congress chief and Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee here Friday to seek seat-sharing “adjustment” between the two parties ahead of next month’s Kolkata civic body elections.
“I conveyed to her what the party wants. There is need for adjustment,” Mr. Rao told reporters.
Trinamool Congress, the dominant opposition party in the state, has offered the Congress 25 of the 141 seats in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections, much below the 51 the Congress had demanded. Party leaders in West Bengal have conveyed their resentment to the central leadership over this.
The Trinamool Congress Wednesday announced candidates for 116 seats in the corporation.
Mr. Rao said his meeting with Banerjee was also about some pending rail projects in Andhra Pradesh.
He said the seat adjustment talks will be held by the local Congress units in consultation with the state leadership, and the Congress central leadership will not interfere. “My advice to PCC (Pradesh Congress committee) is to see that the jot (combination with Trinamool Congress) runs smoothly,” he said.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation will go to the polls along with 80 other municipalities in the state May 30. The seat sharing is expected to have a bearing on the understanding between two parties for other municipalities.
“I conveyed to her what the party wants. There is need for adjustment,” Mr. Rao told reporters.
Trinamool Congress, the dominant opposition party in the state, has offered the Congress 25 of the 141 seats in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections, much below the 51 the Congress had demanded. Party leaders in West Bengal have conveyed their resentment to the central leadership over this.
The Trinamool Congress Wednesday announced candidates for 116 seats in the corporation.
Mr. Rao said his meeting with Banerjee was also about some pending rail projects in Andhra Pradesh.
He said the seat adjustment talks will be held by the local Congress units in consultation with the state leadership, and the Congress central leadership will not interfere. “My advice to PCC (Pradesh Congress committee) is to see that the jot (combination with Trinamool Congress) runs smoothly,” he said.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation will go to the polls along with 80 other municipalities in the state May 30. The seat sharing is expected to have a bearing on the understanding between two parties for other municipalities.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Eastern Railway Budget
Politics seemed to prevail over sound economics as the railway minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, took to the stage once again on Wednesday to present her second Railway Budget in the last seven months.
The goodies doled out to the Trinamul Congress leader’s home state came as no surprise given Ms Banerjee’s determination to dislodge the Marxists from power in next year’s Assembly election in West Bengal.
With no increase in passenger fares for the seventh year running and no revision in freight rates either this year, the railways will need to raise resources from other avenues. Apart from looking for private sector investment, the railways will also look for additional market borrowings of Rs 350 crore, it was indicated in the Railway Budget.
Railway finances should be a cause for concern given that its profits have fallen by 93 per cent in 2009-10 as compared to 2007-08. It is noteworthy, though, that the Railways hope that earnings from passenger traffic will increase by 10 per cent in the next fiscal year.
On Monday, there was a sense of deja vu given that the July 2009 budget too was West Bengal-centric. With Assembly polls a little more than a year away in that state, any hike in passenger fares or freight rates would be a politically unwise move for Ms Banerjee. The minister told the LS that she did not “propose any increase in the passenger fares of any class”.
Rail Budget 2010
* No increase in passenger fares and freight rate
* E-ticket service charge lowered to Rs 10 for sleeper class, Rs 20 for AC class
* Freight rate for foodgrains, kerosene down Rs 100/wagon
* 54 new trains, 10 Duronto trains
* Tourist train Bharat Tirth on 16 routes
* 101 new suburban services for Mumbai
* SMS updates for reservation status, train timing, wagon movement
* Free travel for cancer patients in 3rd AC and Sleepers
* E-ticket service charge lowered to Rs 10 for sleeper class, Rs 20 for AC class
* Freight rate for foodgrains, kerosene down Rs 100/wagon
* 54 new trains, 10 Duronto trains
* Tourist train Bharat Tirth on 16 routes
* 101 new suburban services for Mumbai
* SMS updates for reservation status, train timing, wagon movement
* Free travel for cancer patients in 3rd AC and Sleepers
What AP got
* A wagon manufacturing factory to be established at Secunderabad.
* An assurance on Railway Sports Academy to be set up at Secunderabad.
* Rs 700 crore for pending projects, the highest in last one decade. Earlier, the South Central Railway get only Rs 200 crore every year for on-going projects.
* 21 new trains though some of them do not originate but pass through AP.
* Matribhoomi Ladies Special to be operated between Falaknuma and Lingampalli.
* Survey for 12 new railway lines ordered. Proposals submitted for Planning Commission’s
approval.
approval.
* Feasibility study for new railway lines between Falaknuma-Umdanagar and Secunderabad-Medchal.
* Preliminary engineering-cum-traffic survey to be taken up for dedicated freight corridor. This will help industrial and business houses of the state as AP is included in three corridors including North-South, East-South and South-South.
* Six stations - Guduru, Narsaraopet, Lingampalli, Shankarpalli, Tandur and Vikarabad - to be developed as Adarsh Stations.
* Multi-functional complexes to be set up at Dhar-
mavaram, Karimnagar, Kurnool, Nellore, Nizam-
abad, Vijayawada and Zaheerabad.
mavaram, Karimnagar, Kurnool, Nellore, Nizam-
abad, Vijayawada and Zaheerabad.
* Special tourist trains called Bharat Tirth to benefit pilgrims of the state.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Railway passenger fares not raised for seventh year
The Railway Budget for 2010-11on Wednesday proposed no increase in passenger fares and freight rates while reducing the tariff by Rs. 100 per wagon in transportation of foodgrains, kerosene and fertilisers to tackle the price rise.
The budget, presented by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Lok Sabha, also proposed to reduce the maximum limit of service charge on e-booking of tickets to Rs. 10 for sleeper class and Rs. 20 for AC class. The present maximum charge is Rs. 15 and Rs. 40 respectively.
This is the seventh year in a row that passenger fares have not been raised.
Karunanidhi commends Mamata for emphasis on social responsibility
Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday commended Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee for reiterating the emphasis on social responsibility in implementing new railway projects.
In her previous budget too, Ms. Banerjee had laid down the approach, the Chief Minister recalled in a statement.
He welcomed her announcement of formulating proposals for Madurai-Kottayam, Madurai-Tuticorin, Dindigul-Kumuli, and Rameswaram-Dhanushkodi sections under the category of socially desirable projects in backward areas.
He appreciated a host of other announcements including the new line survey for Krishnagiri-Chamrajnagar and completion of gauge conversion works in Dindigul-Palani and Mayiladuthurai-Tiruvarur. The declaration of Tiruvarur station as Adarsh station and the proposal to construct multi-functional complexes in the premises of Salem, Tiruchi Fort and Tirutanni stations were also welcomed by the Chief Minister.
Ms. Banerjee’s commitment that the section between Velachery and St. Thomas Mount under the Mass Rapid Transit Project would be completed by March 2012 was comforting. The introduction of new suburban services in the stretches of Chennai Central-Sulurpetta-Beach, Chennai Beach-Velachery, Beach-Tiruttani-Central and Central-Arakkonam-Central would be useful to a large number of commuters. Welcoming the project for modernisation and expansion of capacity of the Integral Coach Factory, the Chief Minister said the proposal to establish a sports academy in Chennai was happy news.
In her previous budget too, Ms. Banerjee had laid down the approach, the Chief Minister recalled in a statement.
He welcomed her announcement of formulating proposals for Madurai-Kottayam, Madurai-Tuticorin, Dindigul-Kumuli, and Rameswaram-Dhanushkodi sections under the category of socially desirable projects in backward areas.
He appreciated a host of other announcements including the new line survey for Krishnagiri-Chamrajnagar and completion of gauge conversion works in Dindigul-Palani and Mayiladuthurai-Tiruvarur. The declaration of Tiruvarur station as Adarsh station and the proposal to construct multi-functional complexes in the premises of Salem, Tiruchi Fort and Tirutanni stations were also welcomed by the Chief Minister.
Ms. Banerjee’s commitment that the section between Velachery and St. Thomas Mount under the Mass Rapid Transit Project would be completed by March 2012 was comforting. The introduction of new suburban services in the stretches of Chennai Central-Sulurpetta-Beach, Chennai Beach-Velachery, Beach-Tiruttani-Central and Central-Arakkonam-Central would be useful to a large number of commuters. Welcoming the project for modernisation and expansion of capacity of the Integral Coach Factory, the Chief Minister said the proposal to establish a sports academy in Chennai was happy news.
Railway budget disappointing: Lalu
RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Wednesday described the Railway budget as “disappointing” and said the Ministry’s attempt to attract private firms to fund the Rail projects is like “chasing a dream”.
“The budget is disappointing. The Railway Ministry’s balance sheet is in poor shape. There is no provision for funds in it and private investment in railway projects is inadequate,” Mr. Prasad told reporters here.
Referring to various public private partnership (PPP) initiatives introduced during his tenure in the previous UPA government, Mr. Prasad said, “Due to recession in 2008, private investment in Railway projects had suffered. Now the situation is even worse for the Ministry and all talk by it of attracting private funding, is like chasing a dream.”
He said, “Many banks as well as companies involved in manufacturing of locomotives, lost money during the economic meltdown and unless they are assured of returns, no company will come forward to participate in Railway projects. The situation in the Ministry is a matter of concern“.
Mr. Prasad said Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has sanctioned greater funds for railway connectivity in those areas of Bihar, where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has a stronghold. “In most of the railway connectivity projects, she has only sanctioned Rs one crore for each section. However, for sections coming under Nitish’s area, the sanctioned amount is far greater,” the former railway minister said.
Mr. Prasad also blamed Ms. Banerjee of not taking follow up action on the projects which he had started. “I had introduced various passenger amenity measures and created new divisions. However, no follow up action has been taken on my decisions,” he said.
The RJD chief said he had made Indian Railways into a profitable venture during his tenure, but it was now in bad shape.
“The budget is disappointing. The Railway Ministry’s balance sheet is in poor shape. There is no provision for funds in it and private investment in railway projects is inadequate,” Mr. Prasad told reporters here.
Referring to various public private partnership (PPP) initiatives introduced during his tenure in the previous UPA government, Mr. Prasad said, “Due to recession in 2008, private investment in Railway projects had suffered. Now the situation is even worse for the Ministry and all talk by it of attracting private funding, is like chasing a dream.”
He said, “Many banks as well as companies involved in manufacturing of locomotives, lost money during the economic meltdown and unless they are assured of returns, no company will come forward to participate in Railway projects. The situation in the Ministry is a matter of concern“.
Mr. Prasad said Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has sanctioned greater funds for railway connectivity in those areas of Bihar, where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has a stronghold. “In most of the railway connectivity projects, she has only sanctioned Rs one crore for each section. However, for sections coming under Nitish’s area, the sanctioned amount is far greater,” the former railway minister said.
Mr. Prasad also blamed Ms. Banerjee of not taking follow up action on the projects which he had started. “I had introduced various passenger amenity measures and created new divisions. However, no follow up action has been taken on my decisions,” he said.
The RJD chief said he had made Indian Railways into a profitable venture during his tenure, but it was now in bad shape.
Rosaiah thanks Mamata for ‘people-friendly’ budget
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah congratulated Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for presenting a ‘people-friendly’ Railway Budget, for 2010-11.
At the same time, the Chief Minister thanked her for bestowing ‘special favours’ on Andhra Pradesh in the form on new projects, trains and new railway lines.
In a letter to Mamata Banerjee, Rosaiah said, “You have embarked on a very challenging task of adding thousands of kilometers of railway line every year. The proposals introduced by you are quite innovative and socially-desirable, aimed at inclusive growth.”
Talking to newsmen, the Chief Minister remarked that this Railway Budget has made people of the State happy.
“For many years now, we have been complaining about the poor allocations to the State in the railway budget. This year, Mamata Banerjee left no scope for any complaining,” he noted.
“The Railway Minister apart, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee have been generous in favourably considering many proposals put forth by our government. I specially thank the three of them for this,” Rosaiah said.
At the same time, the Chief Minister thanked her for bestowing ‘special favours’ on Andhra Pradesh in the form on new projects, trains and new railway lines.
In a letter to Mamata Banerjee, Rosaiah said, “You have embarked on a very challenging task of adding thousands of kilometers of railway line every year. The proposals introduced by you are quite innovative and socially-desirable, aimed at inclusive growth.”
Talking to newsmen, the Chief Minister remarked that this Railway Budget has made people of the State happy.
“For many years now, we have been complaining about the poor allocations to the State in the railway budget. This year, Mamata Banerjee left no scope for any complaining,” he noted.
“The Railway Minister apart, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee have been generous in favourably considering many proposals put forth by our government. I specially thank the three of them for this,” Rosaiah said.
Congress hails Mamata’s budget
The Congress on Wednesday hailed the Railway budget saying the party in particular welcomes Mamata Banerjee’s decision not to increase passenger fares.
“We welcome the Railway budget. In this seventh successive railway budget under UPA I and UPA II, there has been no hike in passenger fares or even in freight. Both the UPA governments need to be congratulated for that,” party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told reporters here.
He also appreciated Ms. Banerjee for emphasising on social sectors in her budget.
Asked whether the party was distancing itself from the white paper issued by Ms. Banerjee during the first budget of UPA II, which was seen as snubbing the high success claims of the UPA I’s Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Mr. Ahmed said, “We have only welcomed the non-increase of fare during UPA I and UPA II. The inside statistics can be explained only by the minister and the former minister.”
Mr. Ahmed evaded a direct reply when asked whether Ms. Banerjee has ignored a missive by the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Committee, which reportedly advised for a hike in passenger fare. “What transpired between the PMO and the minister concerned is a matter between them,” he said.
“We welcome the Railway budget. In this seventh successive railway budget under UPA I and UPA II, there has been no hike in passenger fares or even in freight. Both the UPA governments need to be congratulated for that,” party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told reporters here.
He also appreciated Ms. Banerjee for emphasising on social sectors in her budget.
Asked whether the party was distancing itself from the white paper issued by Ms. Banerjee during the first budget of UPA II, which was seen as snubbing the high success claims of the UPA I’s Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Mr. Ahmed said, “We have only welcomed the non-increase of fare during UPA I and UPA II. The inside statistics can be explained only by the minister and the former minister.”
Mr. Ahmed evaded a direct reply when asked whether Ms. Banerjee has ignored a missive by the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Committee, which reportedly advised for a hike in passenger fare. “What transpired between the PMO and the minister concerned is a matter between them,” he said.
Karnataka CM welcomes Railway Budget
The Railway budget won appreciation from unexpected quarters when Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Wednesday hailed it for sanctioning some projects for the State, saying it would help improve rail connectivity.
“I am happy that the Railway budget presented today sanctioned a number of projects for the State”, Mr. Yeddyurappa, heading the BJP government, told reporters here on Wednesday.
“I take the opportunity to thank Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for sanctioning eight new railway projects based on cost sharing by the state”, he said in contrast to the BJP’s strong criticism of the budget at the national level.
He also welcomed the Budget for sanctioning four new railway lines. “Five projects under the PPP which are very important to the state have been accepted”, he said.
After independence, Karnataka had been neglected as far as railway projects were concerned, he said. He said the state would be committed to its promise of contributing Rs. 600 crore as its share of contribution in cost sharing for early completion of projects. Karnataka was the first State to have come forward to contribute 50 per cent of the railway project cost, he said.
Survey of seven new railway lines and approval of new trains and extension of trains would also be beneficial, he said, adding if all projects were implemented, railway connectivity in the State would improve.
“I am happy that the Railway budget presented today sanctioned a number of projects for the State”, Mr. Yeddyurappa, heading the BJP government, told reporters here on Wednesday.
“I take the opportunity to thank Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for sanctioning eight new railway projects based on cost sharing by the state”, he said in contrast to the BJP’s strong criticism of the budget at the national level.
He also welcomed the Budget for sanctioning four new railway lines. “Five projects under the PPP which are very important to the state have been accepted”, he said.
After independence, Karnataka had been neglected as far as railway projects were concerned, he said. He said the state would be committed to its promise of contributing Rs. 600 crore as its share of contribution in cost sharing for early completion of projects. Karnataka was the first State to have come forward to contribute 50 per cent of the railway project cost, he said.
Survey of seven new railway lines and approval of new trains and extension of trains would also be beneficial, he said, adding if all projects were implemented, railway connectivity in the State would improve.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sonia, Mamata flag off 12 new trains in UP
United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday jointly flagged off 12 new trains in Uttar Pradesh. The routes of seven existing trains have also been extended.
Ms. Sonia Gandhi and Ms. Banerjee flagged off the trains through videoconferencing at Kanpur railway station here.
Claiming that addition of a dozen new trains would prove to be a boon for Uttar Pradesh, Ms. Sonia Gandhi said later at a huge public rally adjacent to the railway station that “it was after a long gap that the railway ministry had done so much in one go for this state”.
She said the central government would be only too keen to do much more for the State.
“Our government at the centre in general and the Indian Railways in particular are committed to fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Uttar Pradesh,” she said.
“The Centre was always ready to play its role in pushing development projects for the states, but this cannot be achieved without the active support of the States,” she maintained.
The new trains are Kanpur-New Delhi Shatabdi Express, Lucknow-New Delhi Duronto, Allahabad-New Delhi Duronto, Gorakhpur-Lokmanya Tilak Terminal Express, Varanasi-Jammu Tawi Superfast, Lucknow-Yashwantpur Express, Agra-Lucknow Intercity, Mathura-Kasganj Passenger, Bhopal-Pratapgarh Express, Gorakhpur-Nainital Express, Gorakhpur-Noutha Passenger and Chapra-Mathura Express.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Probe ordered into Tundla mishap
The Ministry of Railways today ordered an inquiry into the train mishap near Tundla in Uttar Pradesh in which three persons were killed and rushed a three-member team to the accident spot.
Commissioner, Railway Safety, P. K. Vajpayee will conduct the probe into the incident and submit a report, North-Central Railway spokesperson R. D. Vajpai said.
Amid dense fog, the Bhiwani-Kanpur Central Kalindi Express hit the stationary Kanpur-bound Shram Shakti Express from behind near Nitawali-Tundla crossing at around 8.15 am, killing three persons and injuring 14 others.
Officials said according to preliminary reports, thick fog was believed to be the cause of the accident.
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee directed three senior officials to rush to the mishap site, Ministry spokesperson Anil Kumar Saxena said.
The three are Railway Board Member (Mechanical) Praveen Kumar, Director General of Railway Health Services V. K. Ramteke and Additional Member (Signal and Telecom) K. B. Sharma.
