'Allow me to be a little nostalgic': Ahead of PM Modi's visit, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee claims credit for Kolkata Metro

NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday shared a nostalgia-loaded post talking about her days as the Railways minister of India when she planned the Kolkata Metro project. The post shared on X came hours ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state.

She went on to share her journey from planning to execution and termed it an "additional privilege".

"Allow me to be a little nostalgic today. As the Railways minister of India, I was fortunate in planning and sanctioning series of Metro Railway corridors in metropolitan Kolkata. I had drawn the blueprints, arranged the funds, initiated the works and ensured that the different ends of the city ( Joka, Garia, Airport, Sector V, etc) were connected by an intra- city Metro grid," she said.



"Later, as the chief minister of West Bengal, I had the additional privilege of taking part in execution of the projects. From the State, I arranged free land, paved roads, arranged rehabilitation of displaced people, removed impediments, and ensured all help in the execution of projects. Our chief secretaries successively held series of coordination meeting to ensure integration of execution agencies. My planning as Railways minister got fulfilment in my participation in execution," she added.

She ended her post saying, "Expanding Metro infrastructure has been a long journey for me. Allow me some nostalgia today."


The timing of Mamata's post is significant as PM Modi is set to inaugurate projects in a move to expand Kolkata's metro network.

The three new stretches include Sealdah to Esplanade (Green Line, 2.6 km), Noapara to Jai Hind Bimanbandar (Yellow Line, 6.77 km), and Hemanta Mukhopadhyay to Beleghata (Orange Line, 4.39 km).

Your contribution? A big fat zero.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari hit back at Mamata calling her post a "desperate attempt to steal credit for projects that languished under your watch." He went on to call her contribution a "big fat zero".

"Your 'nostalgia' is nothing but a desperate attempt to steal credit for projects that languished under your watch. As Railways Minister in the corrupt UPA era, you may have got some blueprints sketched, but they collected dust for years due to the UPA Government's infamous delays, and the non cooperation of the WB Govt since you became Chief Minister. Land acquisition failures, and outright non-cooperation by your Administration have plagued the timely execution of these projects," he said.

"Your contribution? A big fat zero. You have suddenly woke up from your slumber, realizing that today onwards Kolkata is going to witness World Class Metro Connectivity, which will be compatible with the Kolkata Circular Railway and enhance connectivity & convenience of the commuters trying to reach the Airport and the major Railway Stations," he added.

"Remember the Sealdah-Esplanade stretch of the East-West Metro, how your Govt tried to botch up the project completely? It was stalled repeatedly because of your Administration's inefficiencies and non cooperation, turning what should have been progressive transportation model into a decade-long embarrassment for West Bengal," he said.