Why is it Vande Bharat alone?
An opinion piece titled ‘Not by Vande Bharat alone’ by K. Balakesari, Retd. Member, Railway Board, a frequent contributor in national dailies, inter alia, on railway issues, one of my most clear-headed seniors from Indian Railways (IR) and a kind mentor, appeared in The Hindu on 28 th April: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/not-by-vande-bharat-alone/article66786278.ece Do go through the piece. I, however, capture the essence of what he wrote here with my telegraphic comments in blue. Performance of the IR should not be reduced for judgment to certain well-publicised services. M ost of the news about the Indian Railways concerns Vande Bharat trains, given that every train is being personally falgged off by the Prime Minister. There is a touch of wry irony here as within months of the launch of the first train in February '19, Vigilance investigations were instituted against the leader and the team of the project on wholly specious grounds. True. The...