‘Centre suppressing states under financial burden’

Stating that the Centre is suppressing the state governments under financial burden, the state Transport minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday once again slammed the draft policy of the Ministry of Railways that recommends investment by the state governments for projects related to suburban rail service.

Adhikari said that he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee once she returns from Delhi and sent a reply to the Ministry as they have asked the state governments to comment on the guidelines in the draft policy.

It may be mentioned that the Ministry of Railways had sent a letter dated December 6 to Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries (Urban Development) and Principal Secretaries (Transport) of the states which have been requesting the ministry for introduction of suburban rail service “to cater to the growing demand of rail based urban transport”. The draft policy was enclosed with the letter.

Meanwhile, in connection with better transport facility for people the Transport minister also announced that 50 buses will be plying to Takht Sri Patna Sahib to take pilgrims to the place free of cost on December 31 and January 1. The special arrangement has been made to take the pilgrims to the place on the eve of 350th birth anniversary of Guru Govind Singh. The buses will be plying from Kolkata, Karunamoyee and Dankuni.

It may be mentioned that the people had requested the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to ply the buses during her recent visit to Patna.

He further said that two launches will be operating from Halisahar to Dankuni via Barrackpore and Bansberia to ensure better transport facility to people of the area as they are facing inconvenience as Iswar Gupta Setu was closed to carry out repairing.