M A I N   N E W S

Mamata for Central rule in Gujarat

Kolkata, April 18
Pressing for the oust Modi campaign in a different way, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today demanded the imposition of President’s rule in Gujarat and said the need of the hour was unity in the NDA allies in supporting the Vajpayee government.

Ms Banerjee, while pleading for Central rule after the dissolution of the Gujarat Assembly, also wanted immediate implementation of the rehabilitation package for the riot victims.

“My solution to the Gujarat imbroglio is to dissolve the legislative Assembly and impose President’s rule, fast implementation of the rehabilitation package for the riot victims and restoration of peace before talking of elections there,” she told newspersons.

She said she had not discussed her demand for President’s rule with the Telugu Desam.

Ms Banerjee said: “This is my suggestion and it is up to the Vajpayee government to accept it or reject it”.

Reiterating her party’s support to the Vajpayee government in the event of a no-confidence vote in the Lok Sabha, the Trinamool Congress chief was confident that other NDA allies would take the same decision. PTI

Gujarat: Rlys incurred 40 cr loss
Tripti nath
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, April 18
The Western Railway, which runs 35 pairs of trains to Gujarat, Rajasthan and Delhi, is said to have incurred a loss of Rs 40 crore following Godhra violence on account of cancellation of bookings and under-utilisation of capacity in the Gujarat sector.

The good news, however, is that the occupancy position of some of the 14 pairs of trains, including the Gujarat Mail, the Gujarat Express, the Saurashtra Mail, the Kutch Express and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Shatabdi has begun to look up.

According to sources in the Western Railway, they have incurred a loss of Rs 10 crore on account of cancellation of bookings and loss to the tune of Rs 30 crore due to under utilisation of capacity. The unabated communal tension in Gujarat since the February 27 Godhra carnage is deterring people from travelling to Gujarat.

The Chief Public Relations Officer, Western Railway, Mr Manijit Singh told TNS that the occupancy had improved since April 15. This is the time when schools close down for vacations. He said the occupancy in the Saurashtra Mail was not up to the mark and was looking up. Besides, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Shatabdi which runs six days a week is better patronised than before.

“The occupancy has definitely improved. Trains like the Gujarat Mail, the Vadodara Express, the Lok Shakti and the Kutch Express now have full occupancy.”

The average occupancy of all trains in the Gujarat sector throughout March was less than 50 per cent. The trains were running half-empty. For at least three days after the Godhra incident, occupancy in all trains in the Gujarat sector was negligible and ranged between 20 to 30 per cent.

Ms Sunita Awasthi, Financial Adviser and Chief Accounts Officer, Western Railway told TNS that in spite of low occupancy after the Godhra incident, not a single train in the Gujarat sector was cancelled. She said they were trying to re-build the confidence of passengers in the sector.

Bureaucratic shake-up in Gujarat

Gandhinagar, April 18
In the first indication that it has started shifting officers from riot-affected areas, the Gujarat Government today effected a major bureaucratic shake-up transferring 30 state-cadre administrative officers including Collectors of Mehsana, Dahod and Anand districts which are among the worst-hit by communal violence.

Mr P.M. Vidyarthi, district collector of Anand, has been shifted as Member-Secretary of the Gujarat state Gramudhyog Board, and his place has gone to Mr R.B. Dave, Chief Executive Officer, Bhuj Area Development Authority, an official statement said here.

Mr J.V. Rathod, District Collector of the Dahod, near Godhra, has been appointed Managing Director of the Gujarat state Fisheries Central Cooperatives Association in Ahmedabad. PTI