Mamata Banerjee assumes office as Railway Minister

The change in her schedule came in the wake of the cyclone Aila that hit West Bengal on Monday, disrupting flights and movement of trains.

Railway Board Chairman S S Khurana and other senior Railway officials were present when Banerjee assumed charge.

The Trinamool Congress chief had said on Saturday that she would take charge of the ministry only after the swearing in of other ministers from her party.

Banerjee was inducted into the union cabinet on Friday last along with 18 other ministers. The expansion of the UPA ministry, which was expected to take place on Tuesday, is likely to be held on Thursday.