Kolkata, 22 August (H.S.): On the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inauguration of three extended routes of the Kolkata Metro, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted that the planning, blueprint, and initial groundwork for these projects were laid by her and the state government.

Just hours before Modi’s visit, Banerjee posted on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “When I was the Railway Minister of India, I planned and sanctioned several metro rail corridors in Kolkata. I prepared the blueprint, ensured funding, and initiated the work. I also decided that areas such as Joka, Garia, Airport, and Sector V should be connected under an intra-city metro grid.”

Banerjee, who served as Railway Minister in the NDA government in 1999, emphasized that the foundation of these metro routes was laid during her tenure. She further underlined that the projects could not have been implemented without the state government’s active support.

According to her, “The state government provided land, built proper roads, arranged for the rehabilitation of displaced families, and extended every possible help for the implementation. Our secretaries constantly coordinated with metro officials.”

The Chief Minister has received a formal invitation to the inauguration ceremony. However, it remains unclear whether she will attend the event.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh