The Hindu : National : Andolan Express between Singur, Howrah from August 1

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Andolan Express between Singur, Howrah from August 1

Ananya Dutta

KOLKATA: Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said ‘Andolan Express,’ a train between Singur and Howrah, will run from August 1 — a significant announcement considering the movement she led against the alleged forcible acquisition of farmland for industry at Singur was repeatedly referred to during her party’s Lok Sabha election campaign.

Much of last year saw a prolonged agitation that was launched in 2007 by a section of local farmers at Singur, which finally led to Tata Motors deciding to relocate its proposed small car Nano project to Gujarat.

In the Railway budget speech earlier this month, Ms. Banerjee also proposed that Singur be one of the 375 stations to be developed as an ‘Adarsh’ (model) station this year.

More counters

Speaking at the inauguration of a computerised railway reservation centre at New Alipore station here, Ms. Banerjee expressed concerns about price rise, and said that at a time when life for the masses was becoming difficult, the railways were decentralising its facilities for their benefit. “The Railways will open 1,000 such counters all over the country,” she said.

She also announced that a postage stamp on the Indian Railways will be released on August 16. Ms. Banerjee said projects announced by the railways, including upgrading stations and developing some stations as multi-functional complexes, will increase the infrastructure and revenue of the State and the earnings of the common people.

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