Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Improve the current railway system first' that was published in Newsband

Improve the current railway system first

The first address by President Pranab Mukherjee to the joint session of Parliament focused on growth and development of infrastructure. Earlier Modi too had focused on expansion of the railway system in the country, reviving the pace of development of the stalled highway projects, embarking on port-led development along India’s long coastline, strengthening safety and security on the Railways and so on.  

The new thing in the President’s address was ‘diamond quadrilateral project of high speed trains.’ This project could provide special high-speed corridors to link the four main metros. Modi has hinted at enlisting the support of Japan and China since both have the experience and the technology to operate bullet trains. High-speed trains could be the answer to the congestion along the highways and slowing road speeds. But it calls for huge investments and consequently high fares.

One of the most important thing that the railway should consider before going in for the ambitious high speed corridor, it should finish the completion of double lines between different city networks. Major villages and cities are still connected by single line, leading to delay of trains during heavy rains or severe winter. Another thing they should concentrate is on real time check of fractures in railway line, which also leads to most of the accidents i.e. derailment. During the winters, north bound and east bound trains are definitely delayed due to fogs, this is true for Rajdhani and Shatabdi. Railways need to find a way for these issues first.

Safety comes with quality of tracks, trains and personnel. All this along with the clean and operable toilets, hygienic food and other needed facilities should be the priorities and then of course the Bullet Trains and all should come.

More than high speed trains, the more important need is to spur economic growth. We need excellent and well maintained roads in our cities. The infrastructure in our cities is pitiable, when compared to other powerhouse economies such as China. We need to get things in perspective, without which no improvement is possible.

The government should first channelize these funds on the security and timely departure and arrival of trains. By introduction of bullet trains, only a section of the society will benefit - that too very few of them. The current railway system needs a lot of improvisation. The trains should arrive and leave on time. There should be more railway tracks, better working conditions, better food, better sanitation - the list is endless. We are very well aware of the fact what a harrowing time we have when trains run late for no reasons.

Also, the inland waterways must be better utilised for environment-friendly and cheap transport. With a vast coast line and freight rates increasing by the day, waterway transport should be given more importance.

Lastly a good connectivity is imperative to achieve higher economic development. As no sector can replace Agriculture (the primary occupational structure of rural areas), the ‘Agri-Rail Network’ project will help farmers increase their income through better exports.