He took over as the Railway Minister, becoming the first from his party since 1996.
The former railway ministers planned to extend it to Allahabad.
Banerjee joined the central cabinet as the railway minister (second tenure).
The train has lost its significance thanks to some petty politics of appeasements by railway ministers.
He was the first railway minister who resigned from office following a major train accident as he felt moral responsibility.
In 2009, Mamata Banerjee became the railway minister for the second time.
The family moved to New Delhi in 1952 when Shastri became the railway minister.
Banerjee denied being consulted by Railway Minister on the issue of fare hike.
After Mamata Banerjee again became railway minister in 2009, work was speeded up.
He was the driving force behind the Konkan Railway project during his tenure as railway minister from 1989 to 1990.