Put on hold

Among many other things, out-of-turn train bookings have suffered in the absence of a permanent railways minister. Although Road Transport and Highways Minister C P Joshi was given additional charge of railways last month, bookings for wait-listed tickets done through the minister’s office have not been easy. Unless there is a permanent minister, getting things to move is tough, insiders say. Joshi got additional charge after the exit of Trinamool Congress minister Mukul Roy. Roy and five other Trinamool ministers quit after the party withdrew its support to the United Progressive Alliance government over its foreign direct investment policies.