RailEnquiry

KOLKATA: Within a week of taking over as Union minister of state for railways, Adhir Chowdhury has decided to announce the commencement of work on a railway project in his parliamentary constituency that some believe was intentionally ignored by Mamata Banerjee and Mukul Roy thereafter. Sometime next week, Chowdhury is expected to be present at a programme at Krishnagar where he will announce the beginning of work for doubling of tracks between Plassey and Jiaganj.For several years, there has been a demand for doubling of tracks between Krishnagar and Lalgola. During her tenure as railway minister between 2009 and 2011, Mamata got funds allocated and announced the commencement of work between Krishnagar and Plassey and from Jiaganj to Lalgola. However, no funds were allocated for the stretch between Plassey and Krishnagar. This part lies within Chowdhury's constituency of Behrampore."Unlike other Congress leaders from the state, Chowdhury had continued to oppose Mamata even when she was part of the UPA and his party had members in the state Cabinet. Chowdhury maintained that her ultimate aim was to wipe out the Congress in the state politically and for this, she has been trying to build a base in the Congress stronghold of Murshidabad. The delay in getting the stretch approved is an attempt to show the Congress in poor light," a source close to Chowdhury said.

Not only is Behrampore a crucial business hub and an important tourist destination, Murshidabad's location close to the Indo-Bangla border also raises its strategic importance. Strangely, the town continues to remain connected by a single line. Railway officials believe that once the Krishnagar-Lalgola section is doubled, travel time from Kolkata may come down by over 30 minutes.

"It was strange that the most important part of the stretch between Plassey and Jiaganj that also covers the Behrampore Court and Murshidabad stations was ignored while allocations were made for the two sections at either end. Technically, Behrampore can be reached from two stations. Apart from Behrampore Court, there is the Khagraghat Road station across the Bhagirathi. Unfortunately, the Khagraghat Road station also falls in the totally neglected Katwa-Azimganj single line section that goes up to Malda. Maybe, Chowdhury should also take steps to improve this stretch," a railway official said.