It’s Singur once again for Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee. Both of them seem to be desperately trying to make a political statement by taking a symbolic pro-industry stand.

While the Left Front government made an abortive attempt for a BHEL thermal power plant on the Tata land, Mamata Banerjee is set to lay the foundation of her first Kisan Vision project on the Singur railway land, adjacent to the Tata Motors project. 

The foundation laying ceremony will take place on November 29. Mamata has also proposed to set up a railway coach factory on 600 acres of the Nano project land.

The Left Front government had approached BHEL for a thermal plant at the site and a team of engineers had inspected the same. Later, BHEL authorities said the site was not ideal for a thermal plant and they would not be interested in the project. 

Now, Mamata has mooted the Kisan Vision project to strengthen her position among the farmers, beside wooing the people of Singur.

The project intends to create special hubs for storage and transportation of perishable products like fruits and vegetables through the public-private-partnership model.

According to Railway officials, the proposed project will be initiated near the Singur railway station and will comprise temperature controlled storage facilities, wholesale market with stalls and transportation facilities for the stored items. Special trains will run from Singur carrying the perishable items to consumption centres and business hubs.

“The people of Singur sacrificed a lot and fought with the state government for three years. Now, they are looking towards Mamata for a solution to the problem,” said Becharam Manna, Mamata’s pointsman in Singur.

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