‘Mamata ignored city, was partial to West Bengal in rail budgets’

Mumbai’s railway passenger associations are happy with Mamata Banerjee’s electoral victory in West Bengal because this will mark the end of her stint in the railway ministry

Mumbai’s railway passenger associations are happy with Mamata Banerjee’s electoral victory in West Bengal because this will mark the end of her stint in the railway ministry.

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The city was disappointed with the railway budget of the current year because of the poor allocation of funds to it. Railway commuter associations hope that the new railway minister will do justice to the city.

“More than one-fourth of the total railway revenue comes from Mumbai but the voices of the city’s 70 lakh railway commuters remain unheard,” said Kailash Verma, general secretary, Mumbai Railway Pravasi Sangh.

“Mamata’s railway budget for West Bengal benefited her in the recently concluded elections. But we hope the new railway minister pays attention to Mumbai’s railway and makes sure that the promises made by the predecessor are fulfilled,” said Madhu Kotian, president, Mumbai Railway Pravasi Sangh.

“A railway minister is supposed to plan and manage the railways of the entire nation. However, the seat is used for vote bank politics for one particular state,” added Kotian.

“Mamata concentrated on the elections and framed the budget,” said Harshit Desai, a commuter.