An Indecisive Indian

I stumbled upon an article titled ‘Get the Vande Metro routing right’ by Mr. Ramakrishnan T.S. published in The Hindu of June 28, 2024: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/get-the-vande-metro-routing-right/article68341444.ece Now, this mythical beast known as the Vande Metro has been perplexing me for a while. I have ranted, raved, and even hosted a one-man puppet show about it. So, naturally, I dived into the article like a nicotine-deprived loser into a fresh pack of cigarettes. But before I dissect Mr. Ramakrishnan's words and add my two cents, here is a brief recap of my comedic journey with this elusive creature.  There is this inexplicable hype about Vande Metro. The ministry has fashioned it as a train which, as I understand is a 12 or 16 coach formation, with maximum speed of 130 kmph to cater to cities located within a radius of around 100 to 150 km, making four to five trips in a day and that the train would have world-class amenities. The train would also have...

  LHB coaches are inherently much safer than their ICF type counterparts. This fact is established beyond debate, mainly due to the anti-climbing feature in the Tight-lock couplers provided in them due to which coaches may scatter on the ground instead of mounting over each other, stronger construct of the car body which prevents tear and crumple and robust bogie and car body integrity. However, they come with their own set of quirks that Indian Railways (IR) has been grappling with for two decades. For example, jerks at the time of acceleration and braking and wheel shelling. Think of it like trading a vintage car's charm for a sleek, modern ride that is just as likely to give you whiplash when you are sound asleep.   In the cacophony following the Kanchenjunga train mishap, one of the loudest questions has been about the absence of LHB coaches in the express train's rake. Normally, I would not touch this topic with a ten-foot pole because of a classic déjà vu ; it has been w...

  Behold, the surprises the Indian elections bring! A festival grand and gay with ‘a ll the world’s a stage’ yet also a ‘comedy of errors’ in the most curious way. Where else would you find that the one who hath won now doth mourn, while the one who hath lost doth rejoice, not a bit forlorn? Indeed, this festival is a merry fest, where winners weep and losers jest!   The bard woke up to this spectacle and presents The final Act, the final Scene: The Jocose Tale of the Indian Elections   Enter Jester NINDA, dejected and glum, in the bustling bazaar of Indian Democracy.   Jester NINDA: Friends, Indians, countrymen, lend me thine ear! Forsooth, I boasted, chest puffed with loud cheer, That four hundred plus would be ours to hold, But Alas! Fortune's favours han left us cold.   My creator, Shakespeare had Richard say in the eponymous play Richard III at the top , “Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer…” . My left foot, ...

Election results are expected in less than a week, heralding the arrival of a new government. While speculation and mixed chatter abound, there is a prevailing sense of the inevitability that the current government is likely to retain power, albeit with a reduced majority. I do not have an ear to the ground but regardless, a new government will mean a new railway minister. If the current government is re-elected, will there be a change in the minister for Indian Railways? Rumors suggest that the present minister might be promoted to an even more significant role. We wait and watch with interest.   Before the new railway minister takes office, let us briefly review the successes and failures of the current administration. I will focus on presenting the facts without delving into their implications. Although I usually offer constructive criticism and even face troll and backlash, this time I will simply lay out the facts for readers to form their own opinions.   Let us ...