The former railway minister s famous Bengal package which she announced with great fanfare in her budget in February is being nixed, at least for now, as the ministry is struggling to find the cash to fulfil the promises of her predecessors. Still, railway minister Nitish Kumar followed in her footsteps, ruling out revision of passenger fare in the immediate future. More than 40 new train projects have been pending for the last 10 years and the total cost amounts to over Rs 40,000-45,000 crore. As per the rules, we have to implement the projects announced earlier, said an official in charge of the planning department in the railway ministry. We have to submit our accounts for audit and are also responsible to Parliament.
Projects announced by former ministers are in the process of implementation.
We have yet to launch the new trains announced by Ram Vilas Paswan when he was the railway minister in the United Front government, the official added. This means that Mamata s gravy train for Bengal will have to wait in the sidings for some more time. Given the current financial situation, it would be difficult even to imagine when the projects announced in the current budget can be implemented. It may have to wait for another 15-20 years if railways maintain the current financial situation. Mamata s projects, including new trains and the Metro extension, have a financial implication of more than Rs 5,000 crore.