Railways needs to be run better

Hats off to former Punjab minister and BJP veteran Laxmi Kanta Chawla who had forcefully drawn the attention PM and Railway Minister to set the priorities right. The BJP leader has shared the concern of lakhs of common railway users whose train has been neglected by successive government and instead focused on those travellers who can afford air travel. Modi who often uses his humble background of tea seller has paid least attention to common rail users.

Though no one can blame PM or that matter railway minsters for late running of trains, no attention has been paid to improve performance for better. There is no use blaming previous governments. The BJP leader has rightly highlighted of what use of the fancy bullet train or other high-speed trains when the existing trains have no basic facilities. I am sure many Modi supporters would have abused her for rapping Modi but it is good that she has not bothered.

Incidentally, some time back I read a news that railways are in the process of allowing sale of household items inside the some express and mail trains like the one in air travel. It seems a trial was done in some trains in western and has got positive feedback. Has the official who has sold the idea is aware how difficult even for the person serving tea and food inside the coach. One hopes that BJP leaders outburst would open the eyes of those who are in power to set their priorities right.

- N Nagarajan, Hyderabad