RailEnquiry

UPA chairman Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday, launched the Rail Coach Factory with twenty air-conditioned coaches in her Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency at Lalganj that faced a number of obstacles from the day the foundation stone was laid.“Some people spread unnecessary rumours, since day one when the foundation was laid, yet, the factory has been completed fast,” said Sonia Gandhi and conveyed her happiness for completing the project in a short period.The Congress president in her two-day visit also gave appointment orders for Group D jobs to fourteen people in the factory who sold their lands for the purpose of finishing the project. The factory which occupied a total of 541 hectares was obtained from 1,434 farmers as well as other individuals, who willingly sold their belongings for the purpose. In addition to compensation, the landowners have also been promised jobs for someone in each family by the Railways.The foundation stone was laid in the year 2007 when Mulayam Singh Yadav was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. After that in 2008 Mayawati, who came to power cancelled the proposal, which brought the project work to a stand-still.Based on a PIL petition, the project work was once again permitted to carry on by the Allahabad High Court, following which a ninety-nine year land lease contract was signed between the Railways and the State government in the year 2009.

This is Sonia Gandhi’s first visit to her Rae Bareli constituency after the party’s defeat in the recent Assembly elections which was held early this year. In her address she never mentioned a word against Ms. Mayawati or Mr. Mulayam Singh owing to whom the project was slowed down.

Appreciating the Railways’ attempt in taking a lot of efforts in the development of the country, Sonia Gandhi assured possibilities of investments in developing railway security.