Union railway minister Dinesh Trivedi; Union minister for State, Shipping Mukul Roy and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders including president Bimal Gurung, unveiled the foundation stones for the 6 DGHC projects.
The projects include modernised printing press at Kurseong; Basic Training Centre at Kurseong; Filter manufacturing plant for diesel locos at Tindharia Workshop; Multi-functional complex building at Siliguri; Renovated Public Reservation Centre at Darjeeling and a Railway Recruitment Board, Siliguri camp office at Darjeeling.
With Mamata's itenirary remaining sketchy and with unconfimed reports of Banerjee's plans to flag off a number of projects, speculations were that the chief minister would be visisting Jorepokhari (22km from Darjeeling) to inaugurate a tourist lodge and also the Lebong Cart Road to flag off the multi-level car parking project.
However with the blessing of modern technology in the form of remote unveiling mechanisms, Banerjee inaugurated 12 projects with the click of a switch, from the comforts of her couch at the Chowrasta.
"All these projects had been conceived by the chief minister", explained Trivedi (seemingly trying to justify Mamata's right to inaugurate.) "These projects are the fructification of the seeds sown by Mamata Banerjee on September 27, 2010 during her visit to Darjeeling in the capacity of Union railway minister", added Keshav Chandra, General Manager, Northeast Frontier Railway.
The day saw a grand welcome accorded to Banerjee with school bands, "Naumata baja" (traditional musical instruments,) Lakhey dance (masked dance) welcoming the chief minister to the inauguration ceremony of a 20 day long tourist festival.
Banerjee thoroughly enjoyed the songs and dances, met the performers (specially the children) and gifted them Rs 5 lakhs from the state coffers and asked the Railways to dish out an additional Rs 5 Lakhs to the performers.
-HT
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