Amid controversy, Kolkata Metro says Mamata invited for station inauguration
The Hindu
Commercial services at the swanky Sealdah metro station, connecting the IT hub of Sector 5, will begin on July 15
Metro Railway Kolkata has said it has invited West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the inauguration of the Sealdah metro station of the East-West Line, amid the controversy over it.
The station is scheduled to be inaugurated by Union Minister Smriti Irani on Monday virtually from Howrah.
A formal invitation has been sent to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), and local TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay and TMC MLAs Nayna Bandyopadhyay and Paresh Pal, a Metro Railway spokesperson told PTI on Sunday.
A source at State secretariat Nabanna said, the invitation has been received but the chief minister would be travelling to northern West Bengal on Monday.
Hitting out at the BJP-led Government in the Centre, the ruling TMC said the "last-minute" invitation was prompted by public pressure.
"This is nothing but last-minute realisation by the Metro of its mistake in the face of mounting public criticism. They knew about the CM's planned trip to north Bengal, but still they organised the programme so that she is not able to attend," TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy claimed.
"We want the service to commence as scheduled in the interest of the people," he said.