Kolkata, Sep 18 (IANS) The new super-fast Duronto Express, launched from here Friday, is not just another train but also an experiment with colour palates - its coach design is based on Raiklay Minister Mamata Banerjee’s paintings.
The compartments of the first Duronto Express between Sealdah here and New Delhi, launched Friday, were painted in bold florescent colours with abstract paintings. The colourful design denotes speed with a pair of blue-coloured legs in the middle of coaches in a running stance.

“We’ll decorate the railway compartments but will keep its heritage intact,” Banerjee said.

The surprising appearance was the brainchild of the railway minister who designed the colour scheme of the coaches based on her own paintings.

Besides being a cunning politician, Banerjee is also known as painter in Kolkata. She had auctioned a number of her paintings for several social causes and contributed that amount for the betterment of poor people.

She was also seen painting on a canvas on a makeshift podium during her agitation against the forcible land acquisition for Tata Motors small car Nano factory in West Bengal’s Singur last year.

“In future, we’ll again come up with new ideas,” Banerjee said.

Thousands of enthusiastic commuters thronged the Sealdah platforms to have a look of the new train.

“I am really happy to be a part of this moment. The train looks excellent with all vibrant colours. I hope it will bring a change in our sights, as we are bored seeing the typical colours of the railway compartments,” said Mallar Mitra, a daily commuter.

“We’ll be glad if the railways introduce such new themes and experiments with the traditional patterns of coaches,” he said.

Senior Trinamool Congress leader and Lok Sabha member Sudip Bandhopadhyay said, “It’s really a unique design. I am sure it’ll be highly acceptable to people.”