Prominent leaders of the Trinamul Congress, BJP and the Congress walked holding each other’s hand and appreciated each other during the inauguration of a railway underpass in Malda on Tuesday.

Malda displayed the rare scene of bonhomie at a time Bengal was witnessing mud-slinging over a number of issues, from corruption to communalism.

Hundreds of residents, who had gathered to witness the inauguration, were seen clicking photos and shooting videos as Khagen Murmu, the BJP MP of Malda North, Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, the Congress MP of Malda South, and Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury, the chairman of the Trinamul-run Englishbazar municipality, walked together along the underpass.

The underpass has been built under a railway crossing at Rathbari More, the busiest traffic point of Malda town. Every day, over 50,000 people and hundreds of vehicles cross the railway crossing, leading to regular traffic congestions.

The elected representatives of warring parties not only made a show of bonhomie but also spoke of each other’s contributions which helped in materialising the much awaited project.

In 2019, the railways had decided to construct the underpass in Rathbari after Murmu took up the issue with the railway ministry and the PMO.

Work started but it got delayed during the lockdown. Eventually, the underpass was opened for public use on Tuesday. It is around 500 metres long and has been built with a sum of 10 crores.

“It is true that I took the initiative for the underpass and spoke to the railway minister and PMO several times. But the help and cooperation which I got from my colleague, the MP of Malda south and the chairman of Englishbazar municipality, was no less significant. Sutapa Ghosh, the local municipal councilor, has also helped in all possible ways. Also, the railway officials had put all efforts to finish the project,” said Murmu, the BJP MP.

Khan Choudhury too, thanked Murmu and the local civic body.

“Despite our political differences, we are personal friends. Development should always be kept above politics and we have set such an example here in Malda,” he said.

Choudhury, the civic chairman, also spoke in an appreciative tone.

“We have been invited graciously by the railway authorities. We liked their gesture. I had initiated the first survey for an underpass here along with state PWD officials. Eventually, the BJP MP started harping on the project and the Congress MP stood with him. It is a great day for us,” he said.

Railway officials said the underpass is a gift for Malda residents ahead of the Durga Puja.

“The project would have ended earlier but got delayed because of the pandemic. We are happy that people can use the underpass from today,” said Jatindra Kumar, the divisional railway manager of Malda.