Buddha gets a cold shoulder for Metro launch function

“What can we say if they do not have the basic courtesy to invite at least the Chief Minister. This is a gross violation of protocol; more so,as the state government is also involved in the project,” said Minister for Transport Ranjit Kundu.

In fact,no representative of the state government has so far been invited for inaugurations of railway projects by Mamata across the state ever since she became the Railways Minister last year.

“This is not a party programme,though unfortunately the Trinamool Congress has made it look so. The CPM leaders don’t even expect to be invited,but there are certain protocol that need to be followed,” CPM’s Central Committee member Muhammad Salim said.

Kundu also alleged that though the Railways intended to use the tram track (belonging to the state government) to implement the project,it had not shown any project report to them. “They said the elevated metro railway would run from Joka to Majherhat. We said it will be of no use to people and that it should be extended till BBD Bagh. This happened three months ago. Thereafter,they never got back to us and we have no idea as to what is happening with the project,” he said.

Metro railways spokesperson R N Mahapatra,however,said the final guest list has not yet been prepared and assured of following the protocol.