By IANS,
Howrah (West Bengal) : “I thank you all for the cooperation and support. I will remember this forever,” Mamata Banerjee told the railway family Tuesday as she gave West Bengal her parting gift as railway minister by launching a slew of projects.
“I am here to finish the work I had promised,” Banerjee said at a function at Howrah station, three days ahead of taking over as the first woman chief minister of the state.
Accompanied by several union ministers, prominent Trinamool Congress leaders, along with famed painter Shuva Prasanna and legendary Rabindra Sangeet singer Dwijen Mukhopadhyay, Banerjee flagged off new trains, including the Santragachi-Tirupati Superfast Express, Shalimar-Puri Superfast Express and Shalimar-Vishakhapatnam Express.
“I don’t make hollow promises. Whatever projects I have announced have started. The work is on in full swing. Where there is a will there is a way. In the current budget, 150 new trains are in the pipeline. I may be going but I have made sure that whoever takes over fulfil the proposed projects,” Banerjee said amid thunderous applause.
Banerjee announced 19 projects in all, which included laying of the third line between Sainthia and Tarapith, Naihati-Ranaghat and Bandel-Bainchi and doubling of tracks in several routes under the South Eastern and North Frontier Railways.
She also hinted that the railways portfolio would stay with her party.
“Many of my colleagues are sad that I am going. But I am not going anywhere. I will always stay with you. Hopefully railways will stay with Trinamool.”
“Railways and Bengal hand in hand will gallop towards development and growth,” were the parting words of Banerjee who will be resigning Thursday as the Railways minister to take over the reins of her home state.
After formally inaugurating the Rabindra Museum, on the request of Banerjee, Mukhopadhyay sung a Rabindra Sangeet while the audience including those on the dais broke into rapturous applause.
She ended by announcing cash awards for the Railway Protection Force and the railways cultural team, which danced and sang on the occasion.