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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
 Posted - 06/13/2009 : 20:56:18
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Mamata seeks report on Rlys in State http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jun1309/at04
NEW DELHI, June 12 – Railway Minister, Mamata Banerjee has asked Minister of State for Railways, E Ahmed to review the progress of railway works in Assam and submit a report. The responsibility is part of the work allocation distributed to the two Minister of State (MoS).
E Ahmed would now take stock of progress of works in seven States including Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chhatisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttranchal. His responsibilities also include passenger amenities and public grievances, among others.
The dismal train services in the North-East including passenger amenities and the slow progress of work in North Cachar Hills, where the Broad Gauge Conversion work has almost come to a halt, the slack progress of work on the Bogibeel-rail-cum-road project is some of the major issues that is likely to keep the new minister busy.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2009 : 20:58:09
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http://news.sma****s.com/394396/Mamata-not-yet-decided-on-railway-disinvestment.htm
9:46p.m IST, June 11, 2009
New Delhi, June 11 (IANS) Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday said she had not taken a decision on disinvestment in railways.
'No communication regarding disinvestment in railways has come to me.
If I am not aware of it, how can i take a decision?,' Banerjee told reporters here when asked about the government's stake in sale proposals.
Earlier there were reports that the government was considering selling stake in railway consultancy firm, RITES Ltd.
However, the minister said she had not been informed about any such plans.
'I have not been informed or asked about any disinvestment plans. I had a meeting with the RITES chairman even yesterday (Wednesday). But he did not discuss anything about IPO (initial public offering),' Banerjee added.
As regards Trinamool Congress' view on disinvestment, she said: 'We have reservations on disinvestment in the banking and insurance sectors.'
RITES, formerly Rail India Technical and Economic Services, had last year applied for the Securities and Exchange Board of India's (SEBI) approval for issuing IPO.
Though it received the market regulator's nod, the government had to hold back the plan due to the Left parties' opposition.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2009 : 04:49:18
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http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgibin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?\ectionName=Current+Events&contentId=5590448&programId=1073754900&pageTypeId=1073754893&contentType=EDITORIAL
Mamata Banerjee: Railways
"For many people, railways is the representative of the government. This face of the government should therefore be humane," Mamata Banerjee said. The railway minister is giving a maternal face to the railways and making it large-hearted for the aam aadmi. "I shall issue monthly passes for Rs 50 for needy passengers," she said. She is also looking to improve the quality of food served on trains.
Her aim is to keep the railways both profitable and humane. "A perfectly humane organisation will certainly be profitable to the passengers," she said. Security for women passengers and punctuality of trains are her other concerns.
Mamata has taken an all-India approach. She plans to push the construction of a Ludhiana-Kolkata freight corridor. Jammu and Kashmir is also in her sights. But she has said that she would use the railway ministry to woo her constituents in West Bengal. On May 28, she inaugurated the Kandari Express from Sealdah to Digha. The train was named after Bengali poet Nazrul Islam, a signal to her
Muslim vote bank in south West Bengal. The torching of Shramjeevi Express at Khusraupur near Patna may suggest hidden challenges from other aspirants for the railway minister's job.
Mamata, who had led protests in Nandigram and Singur, will have tough job as the Railway Board is waiting for her to focus on the setting up of two locomotive factories cleared by the previous UPA government. Can she stay on track for long?
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2009 : 19:58:49
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Mamata flays Lalu's policies
BS Reporter / Kolkata June 15, 2009, 0:20 IST
Keen on putting up human face of railways
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Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today openly criticised the policies adopted by her predecessor besides branding some of the packages introduced by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) as unaffordable.
At the flag-off ceremony of the Howrah-Digha Kandari Express, a daily train between Kolkata and the sea resort of Digha that she had promised on the day she took charge of her new office, Banerjee said without naming RJD chief and former railway minister Lalu Prasad, that the tatkal or instant ticket reservation system needs to be overhauled. Railways have a commercial compulsion to earn, but it has a social obligation to maintain a human face, she said.
Prasad, in his tenure, had more than doubled the number of tatkal seats, and thereby had taken out the number of berths available under normal reservation. The additional tatkal seats that are thrown open for reservation at the last moment came at a premium of Rs 75-300 and earned more revenue for the Indian Railways. Some, however, allege that this reduced the chances for passengers to buy cheaper tickets in advance.
Banerjee also criticised the deteriorating quality of food served at the Rajdhani Express, one of Indian Railways flagship trains. According to sources, the IRCTC had recently submitted a proposal to the Railway Board to introduce a system that would enable passengers to place their meal orders before boarding long-distance trains, besides focusing on standardising the quality of food across trains. The new menu has Bengali items on offer, a Mamata effect. She even promised to introduce a catering service on the three-and-a-half-hour journey between Kolkata and Digha offering Bengali delicacies.
Banerjee today openly expressed her displeasure at the kind of rates charged by the IRCTC on short-tour packages. These rates have been introduced without my consent. These are not within the reach of the common man, she said, adding that the rates would be soon revised.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2009 : 20:01:31
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Mamata promises Janata Khana, holiday deals
Mamata Banerjee salutes during a guard of honour at Howrah station. (Pabitra Das)
Calcutta, June 14: Mamata Banerjee today promised Janata Khana at stations and complained that Rs 7 for a plate of puri-sabzi on a train was too much.
Flagging off a Howrah-Digha train, the railway minister also promised a janata package for holidayers to the seaside town.
Kandari Express, which leaves Howrah at 2.10pm everyday and takes three-and-a-half hours to cover 188km, has a pantry that serves fish curry and rice for Rs 30 and puri-sabzi for Rs 7.
The rates are very high. It is very expensive, said Mamata. IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) fixed the rates on its own. I will reduce the prices in two-three days.
She also promised to ask the Railway Board to arrange for Janata Khana at stations. I have been told that in Delhi and many other stations the price of food is very high. I will ask the Railway Board to ensure that puri-sabzi and other janata khana are available at easy-to-afford rates. They must also ensure drinking water is available at all stations, the minister said.
Railway sources said the price of food on the Digha train had been kept as low as possible. The food is being served warm in a casserole. It is difficult to sell it at a lower rate, a senior catering official said.
Mamata wants the food cheap, but lip-smacking. She alleged that the quality of food at stations and on trains had gone down, as had cleanliness, safety and security. People dont get confirmed seats even on Tatkal schemes. We have to restore the situation. Railway police must behave well with passengers. They must come up with a human face.
From Monday, two trains with AC and non-AC chair cars will run daily between Howrah and Digha. Kandari will leave Howrah at 2.10pm and Digha at 6.10pm. Tamralipta Express will start from Howrah at 6.40am and reach Digha at 10.05am. It will leave Digha 20 minutes later. Both trains will have five stops: Santragachhi, Mecheda, Tamluk, Contai and Ramnagar.
The minister promised holiday packages for Digha and nearby Shankarpur, which will include train rides with snacks on board, hotel accommodation and half-day sightseeing (see box). Within a month, I will announce low-priced packages for Digha. They will include food, accommodation and other facilities.
IRCTC today published indicative tariffs. We are yet to fix the rates. Talks are on with hotels of various grades in Digha and Shankarpur for possible tie-ups. The deals will be finalised soon, an official said.
Tourists will have the option of choosing hotels from budget to luxury grades.
Bookings can be made through irctc.co.in or the IRCTC office in Calcutta. Other modes of booking are also being considered, the official said.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2009 : 20:05:42
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Improve food quality on trains: Mamata
Focus on restoring efficiency of tatkal ticketing system
Flags off Kandari Express that will run between Howrah and Digha
Improve infrastructure, passenger amenities: Mamata
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KOLKATA: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday that her focus would be on improving the quality of food served on trains, ensuring cleanliness at stations and in trains and increasing the efficiency of the tatkal ticketing system.
From personal experience, I can say that the quality of food that is served on the Rajdhani has deteriorated a lot. It has to be restored on all trains along with the restoration of cleanliness. Also, often people do not get tickets under the Tatkal system its efficiency too needs to be restored.
She was addressing a ceremony at Howrah to mark the flagging off of the Kandari Express that would run between Howrah and the beach town of Digha.
Indirectly criticising the policies of the former Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, she said: Certain facilities that I had regularised during my earlier stint as Railway Minister were done away with later.
Referring the Railways as the lifeline of the nation, Ms. Banerjee emphasised the need to improve infrastructure, passenger amenities, cleanliness, safety and security of passengers and behaviour of railway officials towards passengers.
Pointing out that many stations did not have stalls for water and janata food (affordable local food), she ordered railway officials to provide the facility in all stations within a few days.
I want the railway network to link ports with important business centres, villages with cities and agriculture with industry with a smile on the face and not by terrorising people, she said.
Special trains
The Eastern, South Eastern and East Coast Railways would run 66 pairs of Puri Rath Yatra special and two pairs of Urs special to Ajmer Sharif on June 24 and 25.
The Kandari Express service is in fulfilment of the Trinamool Congress promise of converting Digha in West Bengals Purbo Medinipur district into an attractive tourist destination like Goa. It is the second express train to connect the city with the beach town after the Tamralipta Express.
The train will cover 188.4 km in 3 hours 40 minutes. It will have a pantry car.
Ms. Banerjee, however, expressed her displeasure over the high pricing of the food on the train by the Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited and asked it to slash the rates.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2009 : 20:07:33
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Affordable puri, sabzi at railway stations soon
Posted: 2009-06-15 00:17:22+05:30 IST
Updated: Jun 15, 2009 at 0017 hrs IST
Discuss Kolkata: If it was litti chokha for Laloo Prasad, it is puri and sabzi for railway minister Mamata Banerjee. Recognising the need for affordable desi delicacies at railway stations, Bannerjee has directed to open puri and sabzi stalls at all stations across the country.
"I have received complaints from passengers about expensive food at stations. What we need is 'janata khana' for them," said Bannerjee. "Puri-sabzi is a popular dish and we will soon have stalls at every station selling it," she said.
Mamata, who has harped upon the human face of the railways, along with its commercial interests, has also promised good food on trains, besides drinking water facilities at all railway stations. "Quality of food served in trains has deteriorated over time. It has happened even in the Rajdhani Express. We have to restore the standard," she said.
A senior railway official said Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will sell puri-sabzi from its counters.
"We have not yet finalised the prices, but it will be definitely affordable," he added.
Present at Howrah station to inaugurate the Kandari Express, plying daily between Howrah and Digha daily, the railway minister said, "People are not getting services from facilities like tatkal. We will have to restore that too."
Meanwhile, IRCTC is busy with a new package for Digha and is likely to have one on the lines of the Buddhist circuit. "Digha has the potential to be developed on the lines of Goa. We will make every effort to see that it happens soon, said Banerjee.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2009 : 02:05:52
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Mamata does a balancing act, distributes equal work to juniors
New Delhi (PTI): Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to keep States like Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal under her direct supervision while allocating equal work to her two junior ministers.
She has entrusted her two Ministers of State with seven States each. While Minister of State E Ahamed will look after Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Assam and Jharkhand, the other MoS K H Muniayappa has been allocated Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, according to a Railway Ministry notification.
She has ensured that two ministers are given equal responsibilities.
Mr. Ahamed will look after punctuality of trains, ticket checking and cleanliness with general upkeep of railway premises and complaints regarding passenger trains.
Mr. Muniyappa has been entrusted with the important responsibility of looking after safety and security of railways besides level crossings, construction of roads over and under bridges.
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irse
Forum Admin
India
553 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2009 : 05:21:59
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Column : What Didi needs to do
Surabhi
Discuss : Lalu Prasad may have done wonders with Indian Railways during his stint at Rail Bhawan - thanks in parts to some smart thinking, some sheer luck and an imaginative PR machinery. But somewhere along the line, amidst all the attention he conjured up, Prasad ended up significantly debilitating railways basic functionson-board catering, availability of drinking water at stations, the punctuality of and the cleanliness within trains.
The new railway minister Mamata Banerjee has said that improving such passenger amenities would be high on her agenda. She has also promised to revoke the perverse but lucrative system of tatkal bookings currently in place. Lalus farewell gift of free lifetime railway passes for himself and his predecessors, controversially cleared after the Lok Sabha results were out, is under Didis scanner, too.
Revenues dipping in line with economic growth may have spurred Banerjee to dwell on passenger amenities rather than fare cuts. But going by her stint as the NDAs railway minister from 1999 to 2001, passenger comforts have always been her priority. Her key initiatives then included introducing automated teller machines and pay and use toilets at railway stations, computerised ticket reservations and better catering services.
This time around, though, Mamata needs to think beyond good optics, especially because Rail Bhawans previous occupant has left a number of big-ticket projects in suspended animation. Prasad announced the dedicated freight corridor, railway production units and bullet trains to spruce up the century-old railway infrastructure, but conveniently forgot to tie up funding for them.
The resultdespite a lot of groundwork, cabinet clearances, feasibility surveys, land acquisitions, et al, none of these ambitious projects, that envisage investments of over Rs 70,000 crore, are ready to be executed.
If the countrys largest employer wants its creaking infrastructure to mirror its profitable image, it has to secure funding for these projects urgently.
While Lalu Prasad will be remembered for turning around the Railways finances, Didi has the chance to do much more.
irse |
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2009 : 12:18:37
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It is expected to be a tightrope walk for Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has emphasised on giving a "human face" to Indian Railways, as she hopes to introduce populist measures in the rail budget amid the impact of Sixth Pay Commission and the economic slowdown.
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Banerjee, who will present the railway budget for 2009-10 in Parliament on July 3, aspires to make rail travel cheaper for passengers but may find it difficult to generate revenues from other sources.
There has already been a steep drop in freight earnings in the first two months of the current fiscal and she might have to announce incentives to achieve the loading target of 920 MT. That makes her job of generating revenues for Railways all the more difficult.
Railways have been further impacted by the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations.
A source in the Ministry said, "The three per cent growth in freight earnings the Railway achieved during the first two months this fiscal is far less than the over 8 per cent growth it registered in previous years for the same period."
During April and May this year, Railways posted only 2.84 per cent earnings carrying 141.64 million tonnes of revenue earning freight as compared 137.73 million tonnes actually carried during the corresponding period last year.
Railway might blame it on the recession but some officials feel that it is also losing earnings on the passenger front due to the persistent cuts in fares by Banerjee's predecessor Lalu Prasad.
In the February interim Budget this year, Prasad had announced 2 per cent cut in AC fares.
Mamata is unlikely to touch the fares this time but has to fulfil her promise of issuing monthly pass at Rs 20 for vendors and students, an announcement she made after assuming office.
Sources said unless avenues of revenue generation are activated, Railways might face difficulty in keeping the operating cost under control. The Minister will have to do a tightrope walk to balance the budget, they said.
The budget is likely to focus on improving passenger amenities and quality of food served in trains and stations.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2009 : 18:45:25
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| Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mamata said no agitation can be put down by force in a democratic country. She reiterated that her first priority would be to improve services for the masses. |
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 02:43:07
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Mamata promises 'pro-people' rail budget
New Delhi (PTI): Amid expectations of improvement in railway amenities and food served in trains, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee would present a "pro-people" budget in Parliament on Friday.
"It will be a pro-people budget, a simple budget, people's budget," Ms. Banerjee said.
According to sources close to her, the budget in a way would reflect Ms. Banerjee's vision for the Railways in the coming years and means of generating resources for key projects.
High on her agenda would be completion of Kashmir rail link project and putting the dedicated freight corridor project on fast track.
As she has gone on record saying that Railways should always have a humane side to it, she is expected to carry out some revision in passenger fares and waive off superfast charges that has come in for flak.
She might also announce changes in the Tatkal scheme to make it more passenger-friendly.
The sources said Ms. Banerjee would be constrained to avoid a deficit budget especially when the burden of the Sixth Pay Commission has to be fulfilled for which Railways have to fork out Rs 14,000 crore for implementing it.
Nonetheless, Ms. Banerjee might extend incentives in freight transport to boost loadings and keep the industry happy in the time of recession, the sources said.
She might also push for carrying out railway projects under public-private participation model for which she has already made her stand clear.
Admitting that the expectations from her budget were high, she said she barely got 15 days to work on it as the officials concerned were busy preparing it.
The budget is likely to see introduction of more Janata type and superfast trains on the lines of Garib Raths albeit with different names.
Besides the budget might also find a mention about re-introduction of economic food items at stations like poori-sabzi.
The budget might give a further push to several other railway projects including expediting work on railway coach factory in Sonia Gandhi's constituency at Rae Bareli.
While the ongoing work for world class stations would be accelerated, Sealdah in West Bengal is likely to be added in the list for modernisation of stations.
The resumption of construction work between Katra and Qazigund section in the Kashmir rail link project is also likely to be announced in the budget.
The work has been stopped in the 70-km-long due to the alignment problem since last September.
Ms. Banerjee has also said that the budget was being prepared in accordance with the situation of Railways at present in the country.
Announcement of more rail overbridges and rail underbridges at unmanned level crossings to curb accidents may also find a mention in the budget.
Introduction of integrated security system at major stations to strengthen security might also be announced.
Access control, baggage screening, CCTV installation and bomb detection and disposal system are to be introduced as critical component of the integrated security system at stations.
Filling up of vacant posts in the RPF and modernising the fleet along with providing special training to the forces in view of the enhanced security threat perception is also expected in the budget.
While the usual announcement of new trains and new lines are to find mention in the budget speech, more emphasis could be given on passenger amenities, sources said.
There were complaints against non-availability of food at reasonable rate at railway stations and also the quality of food available in trains.
Flooded with increasing complaints of late running of trains, Ms. Banerjee might also lay focus on punctuality of trains.
Besides, capacity enhancement at existing railway production units, some new projects in West Bengal might also find a mention in the budget.
She is also likely to announce the scrapping of side middle berth in passenger trains besides taking a decision on weeding out certain unpopular trains.
The 139 country-wide passenger information service is expected to be made more user-friendly.
Keeping the shortage of porters in mind, the budget may see announcement of engaging more porters in stations.
Railways may also announce uplinking trains with satellite to know their exact position to provide accurate information on real time basis to passengers.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2009 : 10:09:49
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Mamata defends emphasis on private sector
Kolkata (PTI): Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday defended the emphasis on private sector participation in developing railway infrastructure but said there was no threat to railway jobs.
"You cannot always spend money from government funds. You have to encourage private industries also. I don't want to disturb railway employees. Their employment is absolutely safe," Ms. Banerjee, who presented the Railway budget in the Lok Sabha yesterday, told reporters here.
Her remarks came in the backdrop of CPI(M) Politburo member Biman Bose saying here on Friday that the direction of the budget was on privatisation.
"When I was Railway Minister earlier in 1999, 2000 and 2001, it was my idea for productive use of railway land. I don't know why this was not followed. Why was there poor development on this count" she said.
While presenting the railway budget, Ms. Banerjee had spoken of a new policy to be unveiled for developing private freight terminals and logistic parks under public-private partnership.
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irse
Forum Admin
India
553 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2009 : 10:14:06
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This is what Didi has done:
1) Out of 375 Adarh trains, 181 went to Bengal
2) Out of 12 Non-stop trains, 4 to Bengal
3) Out of 57 New trains, 15 to Bengal,
4) Out of 27 Extension of trains, 7 to Bengal,
5) Out of 7 suburban service, all the 7 have gone to Bengal,
6) Out of 3 S/F parcel Express ,1 went to Bengal,
7) Out of 53 New Lines, 19 have gone to Bengal,
8) 4 have gone to Bengal out of 12 Doubling of lines,
9) 1 coach factory new one has gone to Bengal,
10) 1 Indoor stadium new one, has gone to Bengal
11) Out of 7 New Nursing Colleges, of course only 1 has gone to Bengal
12) Out of 18 New Medical Colleges attached to Rly Hospitals, 4 have gone to Bengal,
13) 1 Metro hospital has been upgraded and that one has gone to Bengal
14) 1 Wagon Maker was in Bengal and that has gone to Bengal being in that State.
...........................
There is no discrimination and let us not blame Didi, why?
In 1980, has not Mr. Gani Khan Chowdhury got new trains to his Malda constituency?
In 1988, Madhava Rao Scindia did the same thing of giving all the new 3 trains to his M.P State.
In 1996, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan added several new Zones and Hajipur was one in that in Bihar.
In 2003,Nitish Kumar did the same thing as Rly Minister and the trend continued. He was even accused of favouring candidates from Bihar in railway recruitment.
Lastly, our Lalu Prasad, 52 new trains were started for
irse |
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2009 : 10:36:06
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hurdle before Mamata http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090705/jsp/bengal/story_11198454.jsp
Land hurdle before Mamata
- 3000 acres needed to fulfil minister’s power plant promise in Adra
July 4: Land, the plank on which Mamata Banerjee rode to power in Delhi, will pose a hurdle when the railways set out to implement her promise in the budget of a 1,000MW power plant in Purulia.
The railways will sign a memorandum of understanding with NTPC under which it will provide land for the company to set up the plant and run it. The power generated will be used by the railways.
According to NTPC officials, setting up a 1,000MW power plant would require 2,500-3,000 acres. “Land will also be needed for a residential complex, a hospital and other facilities for the NTPC employees. An ash pond would also be required at the plant site,” a senior NTPC official said.
The railways will conduct a feasibility study and identify a plot on which the power plant can come up.
A railway official said there was enough land available with the railways in Adra division of Purulia. But there is a problem — the plots are small and scattered. The railways would need at least two big plots, around 1,500 acres each, for the plant and the residential complex.
“It is not necessary to have the plant and residential complex on one plot. Power plants and residential complexes for employees may be located in different areas,” the railway official added.
Railway officials have been told by Mamata that land must not be acquired.
“The minister has told officials to ensure that there is no acquisition of land for the project. Even if acquisition is done, it should not be agricultural land,” the railway official said.
When Nitish Kumar was the railway minister in 2002, a similar power project was sanctioned for Nabinagar in Bihar’s Aurangabad district. For that project, too, NTPC was told to set up the plant.
But seven years have passed and the project is yet to take off. “The final clearance has come and work will start soon,” an NTPC official said.
The railways will first conduct a feasibility study in Adra. This will be followed by a rapid environment impact assessment, to be done by the railways and NTPC. The railways will also have to sign an agreement with Coal India for the supply of coal for the plant.
“A plant will take 32-35 months to complete after getting the final clearance. It is difficult to say when the Adra plant will finally come up,” an NTPC official said.
Adra residents said land prices would go up in the area once the construction of the plant begins.
Land prices in Adra and its surrounding areas vary between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh a bigha. Once the project starts, it could go up to Rs 80,000-Rs 2.5 lakh.
“We want industry to come up here and are ready to give land,” said Nandalal Tudu, a farmer from Kumardihi, near Adra.
The other job creating projects that Mamata announced in the budget yesterday are likely to take off smoothly.
In Delhi, railway officials said the coach factory in Kanchrapara-Halishahar, in North 24-Parganas, would come up in two years. “A global tender will be floated in two to three months and the target for completion is two years,” an official said.
The factory would come up on 500-600 acres between Halishahar and Naihati. “Initially, 20 to 25 coaches will roll out from there. Later, the capacity will be increased,” he said.
The mid-life overhauling plant for train coaches will come up on 150 acres at Naopara in Dum Dum, also in North 24-Parganas.
The average life of a coach is 25 to 30 years. However, rain, moisture and other wear and tear require coaches to be overhauled after 10-12 years.
At Dankuni, two projects are slated to roll. One unit would manufacture diesel locomotive ancillaries, another would make ancillary parts for high horsepower engines.
At Majherhat in South 24-Parganas, the railways will manufacture wagon-loading trolleys.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2009 : 10:43:00
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http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090705/jsp/jharkhand/story_11196379.jsp
Giridih lauds Didi’s budget
- ‘Madhuban link a blessing’
Giridih, July 4: Mamata Banerjee’s budget proposals have brought the smiles back on the people of this district lacking a proper railway network despite being a hub of mineral wealth, industries and tourism.
Mamata’s proposal to ensure “railway connectivity” between Giridih and Madhuban, near Parasnath, has become the talking point of the town.
“In fact, Lalu Prasad had announced the new link in his interim budget. But Mamata, including it in the final budget, has made us happy,” said Swetamber Society president Kamal Singh Rampuriyar.
Along with the new link — which is expected to be completed soon — the railway minister included Parasnath in her plan to develop multi-functional complexes in 50 stations nationally. Parasnath would also be developed as an “adarsh” (ideal) station with “basic facilities such as drinking water, adequate toilets, catering services, waiting rooms and dormitories especially
for lady passengers and better signage.”
Giridih, with a population of 20 lakh spread across 13 blocks, has major tourist hotspots, religious centres, mica, iron and steel industries, coal and iron ore deposits but lags behind in development because of poor railway connectivity in spite of having two railway stations — Giridih and Parasnath.
However, while only a passenger train — Giridh-Madhupur — touches the district headquarters daily, Parasnath, with a Grand Chord section and scheduled stops for several trains, cannot fulfil the travel requirements of the people here.
The Giridih-Madhuban link would be beneficial for thousands of passengers even those who want to take a train from Parasnath, about 40km from here. Madhuban, a religious centre for Jains, may see a boost pilgrim and tourist traffic after “Seeing the importance of Madhuban, it was a much-needed step. It will not only help pilgrims, tourist too will find it easier to reach the beautiful site
from across the country,” he added.
“We also thank Mamata for selecting Parasnath to be among 50 stations to be developed as a multi-functional complex with facilities of a shopping mall and other amenities,” said Ashok Jain of the Digamber Jain Society.
Rajdeep Gupta of Citizen Council echoed the voice of common people, saying: “Giridih has always been neglected as far as the railway is concerned. Despite having huge advantages in various areas, the absence of proper railway connectivity hindered Giridih’s growth.”
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Mamata Banerjee - New Rail minister & her policy
