Sonia,Mamata give UP 12 trains

Flagging off 12 new trains,including Kanpur-New Delhi Shatabdi Express,for Uttar Pradesh,UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi...

Flagging off 12 new trains,including Kanpur-New Delhi Shatabdi Express,for Uttar Pradesh,UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Sunday stressed the need for development of the state and called for immediate measures in this regard.

We have to carry out development work in UP at a rapid pace and take the state to new heights, she said.

Sonia flagged off the trains through video conferencing from a function at Railway Stadium,accompanied by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee,who announced the extension of seven train routes and approved the construction of two railway overbridges at Kanpur.

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Claiming that it was due to our policies that the global recession failed to make a major impact in the country,Sonia said the recession did not prevent the UPA government from providing the required financial aid to the states. How well the funds have been utilised,only state governments can tell,” she said,adding that “the Railways is carrying out a number of projects in UP,and we are confident that the efforts will yield positive results.

Asserting that since Independence it was the first instance when 12 new trains were simultaneously flagged off from a function,Mamata said: Kanpur has already been included in our project to construct world-class facilities,and we have fulfilled our commitment of giving Shatabdi Express to the city.

In the past 10 years,this was Sonias ninth visit to Kanpur. The 12 new trains flagged off were Kanpur-Delhi Shatabdi Express,Allahabad-New Delhi Duranto Express,Lucknow-New Delhi Duranto Express,Lucknow Junction-Agra Cantt Intercity Express,Gorakhpur-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express via Lucknow,Bhopal-Pratapgarh Express,Varanasi-Jammu Tavi Express,Chapra-Mathura Express,Lucknow-Yesvantpur Express,Gorakhpur-Nautanva Express,Mathura- Kasganj Passenger and Gorakhpur-Nautanva Passenger.