Banswara : On the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, people of Banswara district of Rajasthan remember a special story. This interesting incident is related to Shastri’s visit. When he came to Banswara, he was presented a silver rail. The local people had a special purpose behind presenting this symbol. However, that dream has not yet been fulfilled. In fact, Shastri was the Railway Minister during the tenure of the country’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. During that time, on January 10, 1956, he visited Banswara. This program took place at Kushalbagh ground in the city. A big stage was made in the middle of this ground for the ceremony. Where people from all communities and Bohra community were also present.
The train was presented in the presence of Sukhadiya
Senior litterateur Bhupendra Upadhyay briefly tells that the local people wanted railways in the area. With this demand in mind, the city residents made a plan. Just a few days before the program, it was decided that to raise the demand of connecting Banswara by rail, they should be given a memento which would remind them of the demand here.
A committee was formed to present mementoes
A committee was also formed for this. This committee decided to gift the silver rail. When Shastri came on tour, freedom fighter Dhulji Bhai Bhavsar presented a silver rail in the presence of former Chief Minister Mohanlal Sukhadia. Even today, on the occasion of Shastri Jayanti, people of Banswara district especially remember this story.
After the foundation stone of the railway project, the plan is in abeyance
Even today the people here are waiting for the train. 13 years ago, on June 3, 2011, the foundation stone of Dungarpur-Ratlam via Banswara Railway Project was laid. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had laid the foundation stone during the then Gehlot government. Under the scheme, Rs 200 crore was also given with the cooperation of the Central and State Government, but after the elections in 2013, this project was put on hold. Since then the work on the railway project here has come to a standstill. The Deputy Chief Engineer’s office at the district headquarters was also closed. The state government has again assured to start this project.
