Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday that those who lose their land to railway projects will be provided jobs apart from compensation. She also announced a reward and jobs for those warning the Railways of accidents. She took out a padyatra through Hooghly and later laid the foundation stone for a double line at the Nalikul railway station. Speaking at the function,she said: We will not acquire land forcibly. Apart from proper compensation to those from whom land is acquired,we will also give job to one of their family members. To lay tracks we only need 30 metres of land and I hope there will be no problems. Flashing the development card at a time when her party has been accused of links with outfits with Maoist leanings,Mamata said: Haripal,Singur,Pursura,Tarakeswar,Goghat,Arambagh and other areas in Hooghly will be connected through Railways. through development,not terror. We want development,not terror. Lashing out at the state government over the land issue,she said that in just five months the Railways had drawn up a land bank. We have 1 lakh,12,000 acres of land in our land bank. What the state government could not do in 32 years,we did it in five months, she said. Speaking about railway accidents,Mamata said anyone who gives information or warns Railways that helps prevent such incidents would be rewarded and provided a railway job. If anyone can provide us with information or forewarn us regarding an accident,that person will be rewarded and provided a job. If any railway employee provides us with such information saving many lives,then he or she will be promoted, said Mamata. She also announced that an electrical locomotive shed would be set up in Dankuni.
