Mamata announces slew of projects in Darjeeling

DARJEELING - Trinamool Congress chief and union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday promised a job to one family member of each of the eight martyrs of the Kargil war from Darjeeling.

“The railways have decided to provide job to one family member of the eight soldiers from Darjeeling who laid down their lives in Kargil war. They will not have to appear in interview. They should submit their bio-data to the general manager of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR),” the railway minister said here.

“The railways have also decided to offer employment to a family member of each ex-railway servicemen from the region,” Banerjee said.

The minister announced a slew of projects for infrastructural development of the hills providing employment opportunities to at least 10,000 local youths.

“After the Commonwealth Games, I will request Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit here and submit a report to him seeking a special package for hills,” she said.

“We have also decided to set up an office of the Railway Recruitment Board at the Darjeeling Railway Station soon and the candidates will be able to appear examination in Nepali language,” she said.

She said the railways would take all possible steps to promote tourism in Darjeeling.

Banerjee flagged off a new toy train - ‘Pahari kanya’ (daughter of hills) between Darjeeling and Ghum and also laid the foundation stone of a multi-functional complex at Darjeeling railway station Monday afternoon.

However, Banerjee refused to comment on the Gorkhland issue and said: “I will not speak on the political issue as tripartite talks are going on.”

The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) is spearheading the movement for the creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland comprising three subdivisions of the hilly areas of Darjeeling district - Kalimpong, Kurseong and Darjeeling.