Though foreign direct investment (FDI) and fuel price hike may be the immediate trigger for Trinamool leader Mukul Roy to resign from the Union Cabinet but the Indian Railways may not miss much. For the national transporter, he was an invisible minister.
Officials now hope that the railway ministry is not treated a rolling ball among the allies. It is a common feeling that it is treated as a milch cow by the political parties as it has independent finances and budget giving the railway minister a chance to please his state with new projects and train services. Almost everybody in the ministry is of the view that bold reforms can happen in the Railways only if the ruling Congress takes control of the ministry.
Roy was appointed after Dinesh Trivedi resigned since he announced a passenger fare hike in the Budget annoying party leader Mamata Banerjee. Roy withdrew the hike and left the rest of the budget unchanged, leaving an unplugged revenue gap of Rs 3,550 crore.
Roy's absence at the Railway Ministry were noticeable. Some put the figure of his appearances at Rail Bhavan at roughly 20 though his tenure lasted more 100 days. However, all important files were sent to Roy in Kolkata for his approval to ensure crucial projects did not get held up.
The Rajdhani Express from Delhi to Kolkata was reportedly used daily to ferry files to between Rail Bhawan and Roy’s office at Nizam Palace Roy’s presence at the Cabinet was also sporadic with the minister preferring to stay away from EGoM meetings, Cabinet meetings and basically anything that was done out of Kolkata.
Though there are conflicting views in the Railway Board if the absence of minister is a blessing or a handicap,some say that bureaucrats have more fun and freedom to work when politicians are not around. Others say it is bit tedious if just for the want of a signature, work lies pending.
The official in the Board often reminisce the time when Lalu Prasad was the railway minister. The official were more proactive and even interacted with media. Since Mamata Banerjee took over the ministry, public comments by officials are not welcomed giving an impression that everything has slowed down.
