By IANS,
Cooch Behar (West Bengal): Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday said a new train connecting Cooch Behar and Jaipur in Rajasthan will be announced shortly to honour Gayatri Devi, the last queen of the Jaipur royal family.
“The people of Cooch Behar have requested me to run train services between Cooch Behar and Jaipur. I have assured them that a train christened ‘Rajkanya’ will be announced shortly,” said Banerjee at a programme here.
Gayatri Devi, born May 23, 1919, was the daughter of Maharaja Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar. She was married to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh of the Jaipur royal family in 1939. She died in 2009. Gayatri Devi was a famous columnist and photographer.
Banerjee flagged off a diesel electric multiple unit train connecting New Cooch Behar and Malda town and laid the foundation stone for a Rail Electronics Signal Component Factory.
“We have no minister from North Bengal. We have a few MLAs and 19 MPs from South Bengal districts. In spite of that, we are implementing railway projects across the state for welfare of the people,” said Banerjee.
She also said: “Without having any seat in the state Assembly or in the Lok Sabha from North Bengal, we have done a lot for the people of the region. In last one year, several railway projects have been implemented for the development of North Bengal.
“Had we possessed any MLA or MP seat from here, a lot more work could have been done for the people of North Bengal,” she added.