West Bengal wagon makers rejoice over rail budget

July 19th, 2009 KOLKATA - Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee Sunday flagged off the first ladies special EMU train and 19 augmented 12-coach EMU services in Howrah division in West Bengal, in line with the commitment she made during her 2009-10 budget speech. "This special ladies local train would ply between Howrah and Bandel station twice daily during the peak hours.

July 16th, 2009 KOLKATA - Facing criticism after an attack on eight Congress legislators in West Bengal, the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Thursday alleged that "anarchist forces" have become active in the state, posing danger to democracy. "Forces of anarchy and indiscipline are active.

July 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday asked Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee "not to make Indian Railways an East India Company and alleged that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has favoured West Bengal at the cost of many other states in the rail budget. "India is not (West) Bengal.

July 6th, 2009 KOLKATA - After being showered with goodies in the railway budget, West Bengal Monday got its share of booty from the union budget in terms of grants for the post-Cyclone Aila reconstruction efforts, setting up of an Aligarh Muslim University Campus and announcement of a handloom cluster. Expectations had been high in the run-up to the two budgets, as this was the first time in the last 25 years that both the finance and railways minister were from West Bengal.

July 3rd, 2009 RAIPUR - Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has said the rail budget for the current fiscal presented in parliament Friday is "disappointing" as it offered nothing but three new trains to the mineral rich state. Durg-Jaipur, Bilaspur-Hyderabad and Ambikapur-Jabalpur are the three new trains the state has got in the budget presented by Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee.

July 3rd, 2009 KOLKATA - Trinamool Congress chief and Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday lost no opportunity to needle West Bengal's ruling Left Front when she proposed a new rail line from Singur to Nandigram and sops for Lalgarh - areas in the state that have witnessed violent anti-Left agitations. Exhibiting shrewd political sense in her wide array of proposals for West Bengal in the 2009-10 rail budget, arguably the highest sops the state has got since independence, Banerjee Friday let go no opportunity to woo her votebank with an eye to the 2011 state polls.

July 3rd, 2009 KOLKATA - State-owned railway equipment manufacturer Burn Standard is hoping for a new lease of life following Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee's announcement that her ministry would speed up the process of taking over the ailing company's wagon units. "We are happy with the declaration.

July 3rd, 2009 KOLKATA - "Its a budget for maa, mati, manush (mother, motherland and people)," is how a jubliant Trinamool Congress worker described party chief and Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee's rail budget presented Friday. Trinamool workers in West Bengal cheered the budget and said it will lead the party to victory in the next assembly polls.

July 2nd, 2009 KOLKATA - With 'Didi' Mamata Banerjee in charge of the Railways ministry again, business leaders and commoners in West Bengal are expecting a series of sops for the state when she presents her budget in parliament Friday. Trinamool Congress chief Banerjee, who has returned as Railways minister after eight years, has left very few in doubt that West Bengal will be a focal area in her budget proposals.

May 23rd, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The The eagerly awaited southwest monsoon hit Kerala Saturday, a week ahead of its normal date, bringing cheer to farmers in the state. The onset of the monsoon was confirmed after widespread rainfall over south Kerala for the last four days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

May 19th, 2009 KOLKATA - Texmaco Ltd, a KK Birla group company, has formed a joint venture with United Group of Australia to manufacture hi-tech wagon and locomotive bogie frames, it was announced here Tuesday. 'A joint venture company with United Group, one of Asia's leading end-to-end rail technology solutions provider, has been incorporated, and steps are being discussed to set up a modern facility to make hi-tech wagon and locomotive bogie frames for Indian Railways, the private industry and exports,' Texmaco said in a statement.

February 15th, 2009 KOLKATA - The interim budget presented by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee did not address the problem of rising unemployment in the country due to global economic crisis, West Bengal Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said here Monday. 'The budget failed to address consequences related to global economic crisis,' he told reporters at the Writers Buildings - the state secretariat.

February 12th, 2009 KOLKATA - The interim railway budget presented by Railways Minister Lalu Prasad in the Lok Sabha Friday could not match the expectations of the business community here, which is reeling under the impact of global economic slowdown. 'Though there are many positive proposals, there was no reduction in trade rates, which could have helped industry and trade in times of economic recession,' Sanjay Budhia, president of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told IANS.

February 12th, 2009 KOLKATA - Former railways minister and chief of West Bengal's principal opposition party Trinamool Congress Mamata Banerjee Friday termed the railway budget as an election gimmick. 'This budget is just a gimmick before the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

February 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India Inc lauded the rail budget tabled in parliament Friday, but said Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has not responded to the prevailing slowdown in the country's economy that could have been somewhat cushioned by a cut in freight rates. 'The Railway Minister has presented a mixed budget,' said Harsh Pati Singhania, president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).