Govt allocates Rs 10k cr for rail projects in WB: Railway Ministry

The Ministry of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, said that the government had allotted Rs 10,000 crore for railway projects in West Bengal. Vaishnaw was addressing a gathering during the Garib Kalyan Sammelan programme in Behala and termed it the biggest ever allocation for railways projects. He said that if the state government makes land available, the Centre will expedite the projects. The work would begin immediately after identifying and procuring land. The Garib Kalyan Sammelan is an initiative to mark the completion of eight years of the Narendra Modi government. About 30 crore families have been provided affordable housing units across India under the PM Awas Yojana, but in Bengal, only 42 lakh were allotted houses under this project. Vaishnaw said that Bengal has always received support from the government, with the sanction of Rs 3,700 crore for relief after Cyclone Amphan. Vaishnaw added that the ministry would consider options to introduce trains equipped with refrigerator coaches to carry perishable food items, including meat and fish. He said that a feasibility study on whether there can be refrigerated service to carry perishable food items would be undertaken first and will decide on the study in two months. Nearly 73,000 farmers in West Bengal were eligible for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, while West Bengal has sent names of only 30,000 beneficiaries. Vaishnaw asks for quick execution of welfare projects to benefit the people of the state and help in developing West Bengal. Image Source Also read: West Bengal: Runway repair starts at Bagdogra airport