Kolkata, 11 February (H.S.):
Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, former state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Union Minister, posted on the social media platform X on Wednesday, levelling serious allegations against the state government regarding railway projects in West Bengal. He stated that despite the central government allocating a record railway budget, several key railway projects have stalled due to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's objections and alleged deliberate obstruction.
Sukanta Majumdar said that Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav once again exposed this truth in Parliament on Wednesday. The Railway Minister stated that during the UPA government's tenure (2009–2014), West Bengal received a mere allocation of ₹4,300 crore for railways, while under the Modi government, this amount has increased to ₹14,205 crore. This clearly demonstrates that the central government is prioritizing strengthening the railway infrastructure and accelerating development in West Bengal.
According to Sukanta Majumdar, in response to a question from Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad, the Railway Minister stated that only 57 percent of the 4,662 hectares of land required for various railway projects has been acquired so far. In many projects, the land acquisition process has not even begun due to the state government's lack of cooperation. As a result, despite adequate central funding, project work is stalling.
The BJP leader categorically stated that the problem is not central funding, but rather a lack of administrative support. He questioned how long this kind of politics will continue to play out in the state's development.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
