Rabri visits Lalu to talk business

Ahead of the elections in Bihar, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad had an unusual visitor in his office.

Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and wife of the Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo, called on him to discuss the progress of various railway projects in the state.

It appeared to be a strictly official affair as Lalu and Rabri were not alone during the meeting and were joined by Railway Board Chairman RK Singh.

The Bihar Chief Minister used the occasion to request the Railway Board to renovate the railway stations in the state and Singh said that the demand would be considered actively.

During the meeting, Singh informed the chief minister that IRCON International Ltd, which has been entrusted with the task of building 38 rail over bridges (ROBs) in Bihar, had completed the preliminary works.

Work on the ROBs, estimated to cost of over Rs 200 crore, would commence from next month.

The process of revival of two units of the public sector Bharat Wagons Ltd at Mokamah and Muzzafarpur has also been set in motion with the allocation of Rs 33 crore, an official release said. The funds have been allocated by the ministry of heavy industry and public sector enterprises.

As for the proposed Rail Wheel Factory at Chhapra, Prasad's constituency, which was announced in the Railway Budget 2004-2005, Rites Ltd has been entrusted with the task of preparing a detailed project report. Work on the project is expected to commence shortly.

Prasad had also announced the launch of new trains in the state in his maiden rail Budget. Muzzafarpur-Lokmanya Tilak Terminal (Mumbai) Jansadharan Express is scheduled to be introduced on 2 October along with another Jansadharan Express between Hajipur and Ahmedabad.