Train to Howrah fails to keep date with deadline

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The railways minister had promised to start the Gandhidham-Howrah Express weekly train by March 10, but it is still a non-starter due to shortage of rake

By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Thursday, March 11, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2010031120100311023851943cb130bd4)

Politicians forget their promises more often than not. But Union Minister of Railways Mamata Banerjee has climbed a new “high” on this front. She did not stick to her word made in Parliament.
On February 24, Banerjee had promised to flag off 2937/2938 Gandhidham-Howrah Express via Ahmedabad by March 10. But the train is still a non-starter, courtesy shortage of rakes. The railways will take at least another 10 days to start the weekly train from Howrah, said sources in Ahmedabad Railway Division.
Assurances made
While presenting the 2010-11 Rail Budget in Parliament on February 24, Banerjee had said: “Madam (Speaker), I would further like to assure the House that 2937/2938 Gandhidham-Howrah Express will be started by March 10, 2010.”
Banerjee, however, failed to live up to her tall promise made without taking into account the ground realities.
“The minister vowed to start the train on March 10 without checking the availability of rake. There is severe coach-crunch in railways. It’s difficult to attach additional coaches to regular trains in times of rush. So, arranging a rake for a new train in such a short notice is an uphill task,” said a source in Ahmedabad Railway Division.
Promises broken
The Gandhidham-Howrah Express is among the three new trains announced in 2009-10 budget but not yet inaugurated. Tirunelveli-Hapa bi-weekly Express (2997/2998) is another promised train yet to see the light of the day.
Sources said all the three trains could not be started yet due to shortage of rakes. “But they will start running before the end of this fiscal,” said a railway official.
Total 120 new trains were announced in the 2009-10 rail budget. Of them, 117 have been inaugurated.

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