Union minister of state for education Subhash Sarkar has accused the Bengal government of not providing land for railway projects and asserted that the delay in handing over land has halted expansion of railway infrastructure across the state.

Sarkar, who was in Malda on Saturday to attend an event at the Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering & Technology (GKCIET), said: “Altogether, around 54 railway projects have got affected in different parts of Bengal as the state has not yet provided land for these projects. The state government should expedite the process of handing over land to the railways so that rail infrastructure gets a boost in the state.”

While talking to reporters, the minister read out a list of the affected projects, some of which are in north Bengal.

According to him, the railways need 384.85 hectares to augment infrastructure along the Eklakhi-Balurghat route. For the Kaliaganj-Buniadpur rail route, another 197.93 hectares are required.

The railways also need 325.88 hectares in Bengal to expand the Jogbani-Barsoi rail route, Sarkar said.

Sources in the railways said land was needed for laying tracks, setting up of stations, guardrooms, level crossings with cabins and installing electrical equipment.

“A number of these pending projects were taken up when Mamata Banerjee was the Union rail minister. But over the years, the required land has not been handed over to the railways,” Sarkar said.

Sarkar’s assertions come shortly after Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia’s remarks about land hurdles that had hit plans to develop a second airport in Calcutta.
During a recent visit to Calcutta, Scindia had mentioned that the Centre wanted to develop a second airport in Calcutta besides expanding the Bagdogra airport but the Bengal government had not yet provided land for these projects.

“It seems that the saffron camp has now taken a new strategy to mount pressure on the Trinamul by referring to the land issue. They are trying to drive home the point that the Centre is keen to develop infrastructure in Bengal,” a political observer said.

Responding to Sarkar’s comments, Mausam Noor, a Trinamul Rajya Sabha MP from Malda, said the Centre should draw up plans in consultation with the state.

“The Union minister of state has spoken about Centre’s keenness to improve railway infrastructure in Bengal, but he has not spelt a word about the issue of erosion that has been gobbling acres of land, houses and other buildings every year in Malda and Murshidabad and leaving thousands homeless. The state has mentioned the issue a number of times but the Centre has not taken any initiative to curb erosion,” Noor said.

During his visit, Sarkar inaugurated Swami Vivekananda Hall, a hostel of the GKCIET at Narayanpur in Malda. Faculty members and students were present at the event.