Howrah: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee
on Wednesday warned a section of railway staff against delaying of
trains out of political motivation, saying their action would
bring a bad name to the Railways and affect business.
"To me humanism is more important than politics. You may
subscribe to any (political) colour, but do not delay trains
out of political motivation," she told the employees while
flagging off six trains from here.
Banerjee said she had received complaints that empty
rakes going to the yard from the platforms were delayed on
purpose, thereby affecting the movement of other trains.
"I am proud of my Railway family. I appeal to them to
extend cooperation to the passengers. If trains are delayed,
it will bring a bad name to your department and in turn to the
railways. This will affect business," she said.
Saying that the railwaymen had two recognised unions,
she instructed the general manager of Eastern Railway to talk
to them. "There are 10 or 12 people who are into all these
activities. They can talk to the general manager if they have
any problem".
Earlier, she flagged off the country`s first-ever `Yuva`
Express between Howrah and New Delhi and also Howrah-Purulia
bi-weekly Lalmati Express, Howrah-Hardwar Kumbh Express,
Howrah-Bikaner Weekly Pratap Express and Howrah-Yesvantpur
Weekly Duronto Express.
She also inaugurated the weekly Sealdah-Amritsar
Jalianwalabag Express and Jalianwalabag Express from Kolkata
station via remote.
She said it was a matter of regret that only one train
was allotted to West Bengal in the past five years.
New trains would soon be announced between New Delhi and
New Jalpaiguri, New Delhi and Farakka and Balurghat and
Jalpaiguri, she said.
Banerjee said a museum on Rabindranath Tagore would come
up in an abandoned railway building opposite the new complex
of the Howrah terminus.
PTI
