Bengal among three leading states in railway budget: Babul Supriyo

Kolkata, July 8 (IANS) Countering West Bengal's ruling Trinamol Congress' allegation that the state has been "deprived" in the railway budget, BJP MP Babul Supriyo Tuesday said it ranks among the first three states in the money allocated in the 2014-15 budget.

Supriyo said Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, in fact, allocated more money for Bengal than even his own Karnataka.

"The railway minister has provided Rs.1,279 crore in the budget for Karnataka. On the other hand, West Bengal has got Rs.1,498.92 crore. In terms of allocation of money for ongoing projects, West Bengal ranks among the top three states," he said.

Not only Bengal, railway ministers during the UPA government from Lalu Prasad to Mamata Banerjee, Dinesh Trivedi and Mukul Roy sanctioned a large number of projects for the eastern part of the country and they will continue.

"Is it not good that instead of scrapping projects sanctioned earlier, money has been allocated to carry them forward?" asked the singer-turned-politician.