Breaking convention, Mamata takes charge of railway ministry from Kolkata

27 May 2009

Mamata Banerjee yesterday broke convention by taking over charge of the railway ministry in Kolkata, instead of doing so at Rail Bhavan in New Delhi.

In one of her first announcements since taking over as the railway portfolio, Banerjee said a special railway pass for the poor would be introduce for travel on specified routes. The pass would cost Rs20 a month for workers of the unorganised sector earning less than Rs500 a month.

Banerjee opted to complete the formalities of taking charge of the railway ministry in Kolkata in view of the damage caused by Cyclone Aila in West Bengal.

After completing the formalities, the railway minister, left to visit the storm-hit areas. The function was shifted from the Eastern Railway headquarters to the BC Roy Institute near the station Sealdah station.

Thousands of people had gathered for the function. Her party supporters waved Trinamool Congress flags and cheered her shouting, ''Mamata Banerjee zindabad.'' She was accompanied by three of her party MPs.

Expressing concern over the violence in Punjab, she said the Northern Railway would run special trains to bring back those stranded in the violence-hit Amarnath and Jalandhar.