Will invite Mamata to launch East West Metro: Babul Supriyo

Kolkata, Jan 22 (IANS) On getting assurance from the West Bengal government to resolve the impasse concerning the East West Metro corridor, union minister Babul Supriyo Thursday said he will invite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to inaugurate the project when completed.

In the city to meet Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation officials, Supriyo - the union minister of state for urban development - said he has discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the 14.67-km corridor that will connect Kolkata's satellite township Salt lake with Howrah.

The corridor has run into problems at Duttabad in Salt lake where 60 families have refused to relocate saying their livelihood would be affected.

"If the state government helps us the way it has been promised by Firhad Hakim (state urban development minister), the entire thing will fall into place and the project will take three years to be completed.

"This means, the inauguration of the track will happen only after 2016, that is in 2018. Given the fact that there could be change of (political) colour in West Bengal in 2016, but I will still personally invite Mamata Banerjee to open the East West Corridor," Supriyo told media persons here.

Supriyo, who in December met the 60 families to persuade them to relocate, said he was assured of help both by Hakim and local Trinamool Congress legislator Sujit Bose.

"I have had talks with both Hakim and Bose and they have assured me full cooperation. I have also discussed the issue with the prime minister and I am hopeful it will be resolved soon," he said.