Train flag-off put off as Mamata postpones visit to Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 22 MARCH: The flagging off of the proposed train between New Farakka and Anand Vihar on 26 March looks suspect.

The train was earlier scheduled for flag off on 12 February but the programme was postponed to 26 March. According to railway officials here, railway minister Miss Mamata Banerjee and Union finance minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee were supposed to flag off the train on 26 March as they were scheduled to attend a programme along with the Prime Minister at Malda on that date.

The Prime Minister’s proposed Malda visit on 26 March has been postponed, which has also put off the railway minister’s visit to Malda. Under the circumstances, the Malda railway divisional officials are not aware if the train would be flagged off on 26 March or not. They hope it would.

Miss Mamata Banerjee wanted to come to Malda on 26 March with Dr Manmohan Singh and Mr Pranab Mukherjee to attend the proposed foundation stone laying function of the Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology. A controversy arose thereafter concerning her visit as the South Malda MP Mr AH Khan Choudhury made it clear that Miss Banerjee was not welcome at the PM’s programme.

According to the South Malda MP Miss Banerjee had ignored his proposals for the development of railways in Malda. He also alleged that the railway minister had overlooked his request for another train connecting New Delhi with Malda Town Station.

Speaking on the issue, the Malda district Congress secretary and English Bazaar Municipality Chairman Mr Narendranath Tiwari said: “The proposed train from New Farakka to Anand Vihar, which is likely to travel to New Delhi ultimately, is a perfect example of how Malda is being neglected. The new train would be coming to Malda Town Station from Farakka only for cleaning and storing water. Passengers would not be allowed to board the train in Malda”.

Meanwhile, on 19 March, the Malda railway divisional has been asked to develop infrastructure at Chamagram railway station in Malda district for the cleaning of the proposed train and for storing water.

The divisional railway manager Mr MK Mathur informed: “We have been asked to develop Chamagram railway station to cleaning and supply water in the new train. It would take time to arrange the facilities at Chamagram. Till then, the train from Farakka to Anand Vihar would be serviced at Malda”.