After three years of dull, unimpressive and West Bengal pro budget from Mamata Banerjee and her party ministers Dinesh Trivedi and Mukul Roy, the state of Bihar was having high hopes with the railway budget of 2013-14. However, the budget presented by Union Railway Minister Pawan Bansal has hardly anything pleasing for Bihar especially for the region of Seemanchal. It seems the railway minister has totally neglected this part of country, which badly needs new projects, trains bounded to metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and many other cities, where people migrate in large number for livelihood.
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The rail minister Pawan Bansal has announced 107 new trains in the Union Budget 2013-14, which includes 67 express trains, 26 passenger trains and 14 EMUs. However, only one weekly train Kamakhya (Guwahati) – Anand Vihar Express (Weekly) Via Katihar, Barauni, Sitapur Cantt, Moradabad is meant for this region. However, this is not confirmed that the train will have its stoppage in Kishanganj and Barsoi (Katihar). Similarly, the routes of two weekly trains have been extended ahead. Now, Ajmer-New Jalpaiguri Express (19601/19602) has been extended to Udaipur and Ajmer-Kishanganj Express (15715/15716) has been extended to New Jalpaiguri.
Seemanchal region of Bihar is suffering due to step-attitude of Central Government, specifically in UPA II government. In fact, since Maulana Asrarul Haque Qasmi is Congress MP hence Kishanganj and adjoining areas could have witnessed more railway related developments in past four years. Sadly, the past four railway budget had remained totally disappointing for this marginalized region of Bihar. No any new train is introduced for the national capital New Delhi in past four years, nor the stoppage of an important train Guwahati – Delhi Sampark Kranti is provided in Kishanganj after repeated demands.
The rail budget certainly put question mark over the Kishanganj Member of Parliament and his approach regarding important decisions of government. The MP of Kishanganj must express his disappointment with his party and railway minister. Unless the people of area will once again question Maulana Qasmi for ignorance done by his party and government.
