Published 14:51 IST, February 7th 2021
Amid Bengal polls campaign, Derek O'Brien slams BJP 'tourist gang' over Railway allocation
Ahead of Bengal polls, Derek O'Brien lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the budget allocation this year for railway projects in West Bengal
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Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien on Sunday has lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the budgetary allocation this year for railway projects in West Bengal, right before the assembly elections in the state. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had allocated Bengal ₹ 6,636 crore in this year's Union Budget 2021 on February 1.
The TMC leader took to Twitter that slammed the ruling party, claiming that the eastern Indian state has been deprived of Railways funds for years.
In election season, BJP’s tourist gang are touting "record Railway allocation" for Bengal. The truth is, multiple rail projects have been shelved in Bengal and funding choked all these years.
— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) February 7, 2021
The facts here👇
How Bengal has been deprived of Railways funds for years pic.twitter.com/fGd26XCZgH
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had announced the allocation of railway funds in West Bengal on Twitter, saying that it is the highest ever allocation in Indian Railways.
Allocation for West Bengal is highest ever in history of Indian Railways.
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) February 4, 2021
₹6,636 crore is going to be spent in 2021-22 in the state. It is 26% higher than last year.
I would urge West Bengal Govt to make land available so that Railway projects can be implemented expeditiously. pic.twitter.com/0Uz7WMePyk
Big boost to the railway sector
Under the Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has stated that the Ministry of Railways will develop the National Rail Plan for India 2030 which aims at creating a future-ready railway system to bring down the logistic costs for industries. An outlay of Rs 1,10,055 crore will be provided for the Ministry of Railways of which Rs 1,07,100 crore has been provided for capital expenditure.
Further, she proposed Rs 1,07,000 crore for the capital expenditure of Indian Railways and announced the setting up of dedicated freight corridors across the country. FM Sitharaman also announced the government's plans to equip trains plying on the high-density networks and routes with an indigenously developed automatic train protection system that will prevent train collisions due to human error.
14:51 IST, February 7th 2021