Title - Didi blamed for stalled railway project

MIDNAPORE: Minister of state for railways Adhir Chowdhury on Monday blamed chief minister Mamata Banerjee for a crucial railway link to Lalgarh having failed to take off.

Chowdhury said that Mamata, as railway minister, had announced the Bhadutala-Lalgarh project before the last Assembly elections where she had said that the state government would share 50% of the cost with the railways.

the Bhadutala-Lalgarh railway line project proving a non-starter. Adhir said Mamata as railway minister had announced the project before the last Assembly elections when she had said the state government would foot 50% of the cost while the railways would pay the remainder.

The government had not made any move to pay up yet, he added.

The 44km route would provide a crucial link between Bhadutala in West Midnapore's Salboni block to Lalgarh, passing through Pirakata, Bhimpur and the Jhitka forest.

"It's not that the project hasn't gone ahead because of political enmity. The only reason for the delay is the state government's failure to meet the project condition of paying half the cost," said the junior railway minister. "A lot of misinformation is being spread about the project's delay. People should know the truth. All accusation that the railways is neglecting Bengal are baseless," he added.

Railway sources said the project cost was yet to be estimated as the state government hadn't given a written commitment of bearing 50% of it.

Mamata had announced the project plan on October 6, 2010 while inaugurating the Bhadutala Jangalmahal station in the Adra division of the railways.

On another railway project, Adhir said the Midnapore-Kharagpur double line project was progressing on schedule. The new line will be inaugurated soon, he said.

Turning to politics, Adhir criticized the chief minister for asking BDOs to contact her directly, if needed. "This would amount to a breach of administrative and service rules. The CM cannot do whatever she likes," said the union minister.