KOLKATA - Singur, Nandigram seemed pass, as leading industrialists from West Bengal vied with one another Friday in showering encomiums on Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee for initiating various development activities after taking over the crucial portfolio.

From RPG Enterprises vice-chairman Sanjiv Goenka to Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) eastern region president C.K.Dhanuka, almost the entire who’s who of West Bengal’s industry were present during a candid open session with Banerjee.

It signalled a virtual complete reversal of the situation a year ago when she had started a sit-in demonstration before the Nano plant in Singur against forcible acquisition of farm land for the project.

Banerjee, on her part, seemed in great mood as she extended an open invitation to the industrialists to join the railways in public-private-partnership projects and later took questions and suggestions during the over two-hour interaction.

“It’s a very proud moment for me. A very historical moment also. I am honoured to meet all of you,” Banerjee said in her opening remarks to the assembled captains of industry, many of whom were earlier considered close to the state’s ruling Left Front major Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).

“I see all the smiling faces. For development, industry must smile also. We should discuss how we can work in a proper manner,” said the Trinamool Congress chief, who laid stress on small-scale, agro-based, medium and big industries.

“We want to see you submit your intent to partner Indian railways in this important session,” said the minister, who announced she would meet the industrialists every three months.