Increase fares and reform railways, Mr Minister

A forward looking Railways budget has been proposed and before the budget government announced fare increase that was due since long.  165years back the steam engine puffed out of Mumbai station at a speed of 30KM per hour and today our best trains Shatabdi and other such sister services run at a speed that matches the pre second war speed of European trains. I travelled in China’s bullet at 300KMH speed and Japanese trains are doing much faster. We continue to slog at speed as slow as some trains run at a speed less than 50km per hour. Modi’s launching a semi bullet train between Delhi and Agra is a step forward. No doubt institution of Railways is old and covers 64000KM carrying 25 million passengers each day. It offers cheapest train fare in the world. Advantages of high speed are many that more frequency enables rush clearance and there is no waiting. Safety is assured due to advanced systems replacing the existing fixed signal system of India. Precious time is saved. Reforms must begin at the earliest in this sector.

I often travel between newly established Amb station of Himachal to Delhi. The overnight train takes ten hours but it costs hardly six hundred in A/C second class compartment which provides sleeping bed with linen. Travel in a Volvo overnight bus costs double of it, without sleeping facility. But worst part of train is coaches need to be modernized and cleaned properly. Due to small crowds the stations in himachal are clean but larger ones are bad. Once you reach Delhi the real ordeal is to get out of station. As many trains reach different plat forms there is only one bridge to connect passengers to exit platform. It is virtual stampede and many detraining passengers have reported losing cash at the hands of pickpockets in the mêlée. A book seller told me that some security personnel and pickpockets have some understanding. It badly needs escalators but seniors and children face the mobs in climbing the stairs of only bridge. There are no lifts. The only escalator is at the end at first platform only for climbing down or for those coming in and it is never found working. The station is full of garbage and crowds pushing each against other. Going out of the main gate is ordeal when you pass hundreds of men and women sleeping on the ground and when outside taxi drivers start pestering and there is virtual scramble for bodily lifting you to any one of the standing vehicles. Once you are out you face worse situation on return journey. The entry to old Delhi station is nondescript as wrong signage are shown, finally one learns that you have to take a u turn after going farther from the majestic old building. Through a side road you drive inside to the porch of the station. What a glorious entry to the capital !New passengers and drivers, who do not know this labyrinthine  entry to the Capital’s station, face unlimited problems as sometime they are dropped wrongly at distant spots. At the entry there is only one X-ray machine and in the name of security everyone tries to squeeze in the baggage through it. The waiting room is absolute unkempt and its toilets are running ankle deep water and when I complain the keeper expresses helplessness. There are no escalators or lifts and senior citizens plod through the stairs counting each step and going out of breath. Dirty platform is littered with people sleeping on the ground, stray dogs freely moving and rats gnawing at the crumbs or passenger baggage. It stinks and some ladies have stuffed their scarf to their noses. The train is being cleaned and only half an hour before the departure it opens. Still I find compartment not clean as many leftovers are there. When I complain to conductor he shrugs his shoulders and says these men are contractor workers and what could he do ?.This is great outsourcing by the Railways!

Mr Minister many of these things can be easily remedied by strict supervision and management of plat forms to bring new service culture. I am sure this will form part of our PM.s good governance to set these things right.

Equally important matter is concerning policies. Speed and safety are uppermost in my mind but equally I want to remind you that politicizing of train connections and opening new lines is bane of India’s administration. Mamta, Lalu, Nitish and Bansal in past took care of their own home states and there was no Railway Minister from Himachal or North east. But top most priority must be given to connecting all corners of India and Himachal as well as north east deserve priority that no one has bothered to give so far. It is high time now PM fulfills his promise to connect all part of the country as he said while opening Shri Shakti train service. In budget or post budget these are priorities for Government.

Bus Stand

First Passenger: Why Himachal people are excited about Rail Budget even when fares go up?

Second Passenger : They are waiting for Bullet train one day .

------Prof NKSingh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India