Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday announced that 60 next-generation trains would be introduced for the Kolkata Metro in the next five years and hoped the railway projects in Bengal would get a fresh boost under the double-engine government.
Following a meeting with Adhikari at the state secretariat Nabanna, Vaishnaw said, “For West Bengal, Bullet trains have been promised, which will connect Delhi, Lucknow, Patna to Siliguri. Delhi to Siliguri can be travelled in six hours. We will complete the work very fast.”
“The Bullet train has been promised by the Prime Minister. The high-speed corridors will connect Siliguri with New Delhi in six hours,” Vaishnaw said.
“Altogether 102 Amrit Bharat Stations will be modernized and around 538 railway underpasses will be built. The previous Trinamool government did not even respond to the Railway Ministry’s letters and hold meetings. We will receive projects worth one lakh crore in next few years. Altogether 40 plus NOCs were given today,” CM said.
Adhikari directed district magistrates to prepare a calendar for handing over land required for the Railway projects, following a meeting with Vaishnaw.
Adhikari said relations between the state and the Centre have improved while the previous government never cooperated. The Chief Minister said several key infrastructure initiatives had faced delays and blockades due to a lack of cooperation by the previous Trinamool Congress government. “It will pave the way for faster execution of the railway projects and people will get the benefits of the double engine government in Bengal,” CM said“In order to expedite the projects, we have given clear instructions to DMs-wherever land will be needed, it will be purchased by Railway Boards or state government and get handed over,” Adhikari said.
The railway minister also said only 28 km of the Kolkata Metro network was completed in 42 years, while 45 km of metro lines have been added from 2014 after Modi became PM.
“Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the double engine is functioning properly and a good outcome will be witnessed. Government buses, e-vehicles will run and we will help the services reach to the people,” CM said.
“In connection with the Kolkata Metro project at Chingrighata, the previous state government took the legal battle to the High Court and then to the Supreme Court. Earlier, the High Court had directed that work at Chingrighata should proceed, but the matter was taken further to the Supreme Court, which also ruled that the project should move ahead. Their attitude was not to allow any development work. I have said in Parliament that they were Bengal-Birodhi (Anti-Bengal),” he said.
“I had planned according to Police instructions. Despite the High Court order, permission was not given. The previous Trinamool government had gone to the Supreme Court dragging the legal battle,” Vaishnaw said.
“Today, I took the Kolkata Metro. We will revamp it,” the Union Minister said. He boarded the Metro from Jai Hind station, near Kolkata Airport, and went to Noapara. Vaishnaw spoke to the passengers and then boarded his car and reached Nabanna.