Mamata Banerjee and Railway Projects

No Rly minister has ever declared so many projects for Bengal as Mamata Banerjee has done. Railways normally offer priorities to matters like introduction of new trains, improvement of infrastructure, betterment of maintenance work, enhancement of passengers’ amenities etc.But Mamata Banerjee has gone out of the way and extended her attention to making of hospitals, schools, factories, business hubs, sporting complexes, auditoria and many other activities too. Almost daily Railways splash full-page ads in leading dailies announcing mostly laying of foundation stones and sometimes inauguration of new projects by Miss Banerjee. She introduces new trains and opens computerized reservation counters at regular intervals. It’s no doubt true newly introduced trains have benefited a lot of people and so are the newly opened computerized reservation counters. But it’s difficult to pronounce judgment on the projects whose foundation stones have just been laid. Some critics of Rly. minister argue many of the announced projects would never see the light of the day as Railway coffers have run dry. Many even say a lot of projects are being announced without caring for availability of funds only to woo voters. These statements might be taken as malicious and politically motivated to discredit and malign the TMC supremo.But it’s no denying the fact the money required to implement the projects already declared, let alone those in the pipeline, has reached astronomical figure and it’s difficult to imagine where the money will come from particularly when precious little has been done to enhance the revenues of Railways. So even by common sense the situation is not as rosy as it’s shown. However, if Mamata Banerjee becomes the Chief minister, she might wash her hands of the projects . Perhaps it’s her game plan and there’s nothing unfair in politics as in war.