According to media reports from Delhi this follows an internal review by the Indian Railways after Mamata Banerjee took charge as the new minister. The project could now come up in partnership with the private sector.

It was the outgoing railway minister Lalu Prasad, who had proposed that a diesel locomotive factory be set up in Marhaura near Chapra and an electric one in Madhepura. It was never a smooth ride for Lalu as he had to face several contentious internal debates and differences with other ministries.

A top railway official has been quoted in media as saying that “the cabinet has the power to decide where these projects should be situated. A decision on shifting the location of these factories would be a political decision and they can take a call on relocating the two projects, if required.”

Though senior railway officials are of the view that there was no logistical or technical reason for the factories to be situated in Bihar and that the decision was purely political the truth is that political factors often dominate the logistic and technical reasons. For example the coach factory came up in Kapurthala in late-1980s to take the wind out of the Khalistan movement. Similarly, the coach factory at Sonia Gandhi’s parliamentary constituency, Rai Bareli, has nothing to do with the logistic or technical factors. The foundation stone was laid only early this year with both Sonia and Lalu gracing the occasion.

The tragedy with Bihar is that the state’s bargaining position has been considerably eroded. There is no one from the Congress in Bihar to stand up and resist the move. The RJD and LJP have got completely marginalized. The NDA, which has 32 MPs from Bihar, is least interested in any move which even remotely gives credit to Lalu Yadav. Its whole election campaign revolved around the argument that Lalu and Ram Vilas did absolutely nothing for the state. Once these projects go out of Bihar they will be able to say that their allegations have been vindicated.

In contrast Mamata Banerjee would like to make a political capital out of these projects as her party, in alliance with the Congress, is likely to take on the Left Front in 2011 assembly election.

Comment

comments...

This is extremely unfortunate friends, the IIT which was snatched from us came back to Bihar only after 60 years. Let us all fight for it, does not matter which party which profession we are. This would be huge loss for bihar and it's people. West Bengal has it's own share of industries and all, we will not let them exploit Bihar relentlessly.

When bihar was supplying iron to build railway tracks all over india and coal to run all the steam locomotives it was good but when they have robbed it all. Bihar is not good to setup the locomotive factories. Our students are getting beaten in Maharashtra when they go for railway exam. No sir we will not take this lying down, whatever it takes let's all stand up and shout so that guys out there in Delhi do not even dare to think about shifting these projects.


It does not matter who brought this to india Lalu, Nitish, Modi or anybody else. The fact of the matter is the project is for bihar and it is already approved. No question of it shifting. Warning: If we take it lying down that will encourage them to keep doing this repeatedly which they have been doing till now. Let's remember how our students were beaten in maharashtra, let's remember how our brothers were beaten in Assam, let's remember how our student from Patna was asked insulting question for admission in law college in Pune. Our brothers who go to other state to earnlivelihood do not enjoy doing that. Let's create livelihood for them right here.

arun_k7@yahoo.com

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It will be big set back for Biahr and shame for all Biahr Politicians. Now as usual, these politicians will only shout and will not be able to do anything b'caz they dont want it from heart. they only need money and minister position by hook or crook. Now Bihar people has to wake up and come forward wherever they are. The central goverment always treat Bihar as stepmother and all biahri polticians accepts it without raising any voice. dont want to say anyword for politicians as everybody knows it and they are tail of dog. Now from every corner of India all bihari peoples has to get up and come out and start protest this decision. We need to show the word that now bihar has awaken and will not let anybody to do any step wrong with Bihar.
Sunil Kumar

sunilkumarmkt@samtelgroup.com

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Come on the road and do whatever we can do non violently to stop this mockery of Bihar.Dont expect from Lalu that he will do any thing. Nitish Kumar should come forward to stop this.Why dont Mamta bring new project to their state.

MD.Rasul@simoncarves.com

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It is really great loss for bihar.I don’t think any Bihari politician will fight for this.These Bihari y politician is very selfish.Just they need vote nothing else.They don’t
Want to work for people of bihar.They want to full their pocket only.Mamta shouldn’t take this project for her own state because this has been already decided
2 years before.Guys come forward and fight for our right.
Alok
Patna

Alok_Kumar10@infosys.com

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It is really unfortunate that the Politicians for populism do the mockery of peopel's verdict. Once elected to parliament, a leader is accountabvle to the entire nation and not to his home. Mamta Bannerji is just another name in the series. In fact it is the people who should initiate a non-violent movement to checjk these unethical practices by any politician in any part of teh country.
Rakesh

rakesh@popfound.org

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In the event of shifting of Railway projects meant for Madhepura and Chapra, the people of Bihar will not allow any train to pass through Bihar to W bengal. Mamta will have to find new route for trains moving in -out of Bengal.

Bhupendra
Madhepura

visaka_sekar@hotmail.com

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I do not think these project should be relocated by any  ministry once the decision is made to establish them in a particular city. Whatever was the motivation to establish them in Bihar, I think Bihar needs more investments like this to create jobs in Bihar, where per capita income is one of the lowest in India.
All MPs irrespective of their party affiliations from Bihar should voice concern on this issue if they really care about Bihar.
  Vijay Singh

VIJAY@cmihvac.com

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If it will happen! that means Govt. of India has intention to put Bihar on backward track for ever, It's not the time to blame any Bihari Politician, all Bihar should come out on street to stop such devil design of Mamta Banerjee & Congress, It's time to fight for the respect & right of Bihar.

Piyush Nimiyar
New Delhi

piyush1919@gmail.com

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This is display of very dirty politics by UPA as well as Mamta banerjee. This is high time , all Bihari leader must unite and ensure the safely and this project. This project was decided by the previous govt and the new govt has not moral right to overturn the decision just to gain political milage. Nitish Kumar should not consider it as a loss to Laloo Yadav. It will be great loss to entire Bihar and bihari people.

If Bihari leaders are busy in calculating their gain and loss with this issue then Bihari people should stand together and make sure that govt does not dare to take these project out of Bihar. If central govt turn blind eye towards it then, we should take law in our own hand and make sure that no West Bangal bound train should go through Bihar. This should be done at last resort. we must not bow down to these cheap leader and their dirty tactice.

Jai Bihar

Sunil Kumar
sunil.kumar@dksh.com

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Please refer to the railway projects in Bihar. Mamta's hate for Bihar is ominous.She cannot and should not shift any Railway Projects from Bihar to Bengal as Bengal has already Chittranjan locomotive works.Whole of Eastern States are neglected. Hence if she is a great leader,she should establish more industries in Eastern Region.
Dhirendra Singh

dp.dhirendra@gmail.com

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If this project shifted to west Bengal,it will be big set back for bihari politicians,irrespective to their parties back ground. Now not only politicians ,people of Bihar should come out on road and shook the central government.This is not the time to blame this or that , come out n start protest and tell the people of INDIA that Bihar is backward not only due to Bihari politicians but also due to center who always treat Bihar Stepmotherly.

-Haque

kuwait

ain_haque@hotmail.com