Kolkata, Oct 26 Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday claimed that previous governments neglected Jharkhand, which saw a 16-fold increase in its railway budget under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule.
He also asserted that several railway projects in West Bengal received fresh impetus under the BJP government in the state and pointed out that the vital Beleghata-Sector V metro track construction in Kolkata has been completed.
After flagging off the new Santragachi-Jaipur Express train virtually, the railway minister said the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre has taken up development works of the rail ecosystem keeping in mind that the railways mainly cater to middle-class and low-income groups.
Pointing out that around 1,300 smaller railway stations were being upgraded across the country, Vaishnaw pointed out that 57 rail stations in Jharkhand were being upgraded under the Amrit Bharat project.
Upgradation of Tatanagar, Govindpur, Lohardaga, Madhupur, Muri and Ramgarh Cantonment stations have already been completed, he said, adding that several stations across West Bengal have also been upgraded.
“Jharkhand used to get a stepmotherly treatment during governments prior to that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under whose stewardship budgetary outlay in railways for the eastern state increased 16 times — from Rs 450 crore per annum to Rs 7,500 crore at present,” he said.
Presently, projects worth Rs 75,000 crore were being implemented in Jharkhand, the minister added.
He asserted that the development of Jharkhand can be ensured only under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
In an apparent poll pitch, Vaishnaw said, “When you (people of Jharkhand) have to make the decision, you will have to remember that PM Modi works for the advancement and development of the state.”
He urged the people of the state to visit neighbouring West Bengal to see how development work was being undertaken under the new BJP government.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was at the Santragachi railway station in Howrah district for the flagging-off of the train that connects Kolkata, Kharagpur, Tatanagar, Sasaram and other eastern Indian cities with the Rajasthan capital of Jaipur.
At the event, Vaishnaw said the new BJP government in West Bengal gave the necessary clearance for metro railway work at the key Chingrihata crossing over Eastern Metropolitan Bypass within just 17 days of coming to power.
Metro Railway officials said that with the completion of a 366-metre critical link for the New Garia-Sector V metro railway line, trial runs have started and commercial metro service is expected to start by this December.
“We will request Prime Minister Modi to inaugurate the line as soon as the trial, testing and certification process is completed,” Vaishnaw said.
He said that the demand for an express train connecting West Bengal and Jharkhand with Jaipur in Rajasthan was 30 to 35 years old.
“The new express train has been made possible after increasing the capacity at Khatepura in Jaipur,” he said, adding that more new trains will be introduced with capacity augmentation.
Vaishnaw said that the railway line between Jamshedpur and Howrah is being upgraded to four tracks. “The Howrah-Mumbai railway line will be upgraded to a four-track one,” he said.
(PTI News)
