Railway minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday announced jobs for “anyone” who would provide information prior to any “sabotage” of the railway properties. The railway officials will also get award if they “communicate in the right time” to the appropriate authorities about any incident of a possible sabotage. Ms Banerjee also alerted the railway officials that some political parties might instigate them for sabotage.
Claiming that the act of sabotage to the railway properties has become a daily occurrence, she said, “If a person provides information in advance about any sabotage, the person will be rewarded with a job.” But if someone is found to be involved in any act of sabotage, he will have to face the consequences, she added. Ms Banerjee was speaking during the flagging off ceremony of 17 pairs of suburban trains at the Howrah station. The minister also reiterated that the derailment of the Gyaneswari Express was an incident of sabotage. “Umakanta was murdered to suppress the facts. Please don’t kill people for political interests,” she urged her political opponents (read the CPM). Umakanta Mahato was the prime accused in the derailment of Gyaneswari Express.
“Some political parties may instigate you for sabotage. But remember, political parties will come in power and will go but the railways will be with you forever,” she pointed out to the railway employees. Ms Banerjee also announced a reward of `50,000 for the Rajdhani Express driver who stopped the train at Baruipara recently following a snag and managed to avert a possible accident.
Meanwhile, Ms Banerjee admitted the fact that the Railways has two lakh vacant posts. “This is the backlog for the last 10 years. We have started the process to recruit people in the vacant posts but it will need some time to fill it up,” Ms Banerjee added.
The railway minister also claimed that all the announced railway projects in Bengal are on track. “We have made budget allocation for the projects,” she said, adding that the Howrah-Pune Duronto Express and Howrah-Digha Duronto Express will be flagged on the eve of the Durga Puja.