Our nation is unique and teeming with
diversity in many aspects. We have a long-established tradition of looking at
things from a different perspective. For us, the Ganga and Godavari are not just
names of rivers; they are synonymous with a mother who gives life. Music is not
merely for providing pleasure to the ears but a means to practice and master
pitch and rhythm. Similarly, Indian Railways is not just a train equipped with
an engine and a couple of coaches; it is a bridge of emotional relationships
that connects our workers, farmers, soldiers, and crores of citizens with their
families and relatives. Our trains are not merely running on tracks from East
to West or North to South; they are, in fact, a passage for a complex web of
feelings and emotions. Encompassing the diversity of the entire nation, Indian
Railways is both a representative of the Government of India and a symbol of
the aspirations of its citizens.
The litmus test of these aspirations
comes up every year during the festive season when crores of people living away
from their families return home. After toiling in the anonymity of metropolitan
life for a year, the hardworking individuals embark on train journeys in huge
numbers with the hope of reuniting with their loved ones. The number of
passengers traveling by train during this season is so vast that it could
overwhelm those who have not worked under such circumstances. In such
situations, merely managing smooth train operations is not enough. You also
have to ensure proper facilities such as ticket booking, accommodation, and
drinking water for those coming to railway stations. Apart from railway
officials and employees, several voluntary organizations also provide help and
support in managing this situation. Indian Railways had decades of experience
in helping crores of passengers reach their destinations daily but now the
focus is on making this experience a pleasant one.
Foreign guests are often shocked at the
scale of operations when this topic is discussed. Many experts in traffic
management are surprised to learn that, during the festive season, Indian
Railways operated 7,700 special trains in addition to 1,70,000 train trips.
Consider the industrial town of Udhna near Surat which typically handles seven
to eight thousand passengers daily, but on November 4, a massive crowd of
40,000 passengers gathered at this small station. Without the railway
administration’s coordinated efforts and proper arrangements, the passengers’
challenges would have been unimaginable. New Delhi railway station witnessed
the highest traffic during the festive season, with 64 special trains and 19
unreserved trains operating on demand during this period.
When the topic of train travel during the
festive season was discussed in a meeting with foreign guests, one diplomat was
astonished to learn that this year, before Chhath Mahaparv, at least three
crore people traveled by train on November 4 alone, and approximately 25 crore
people used Indian Railways during the festive season to reach their
destinations. Smiling, the diplomat remarked, “More people than the total
population of Pakistan traveled by your trains in just a few days.”
Indian Railways recognizes that our
brothers and sisters from the eastern part of the country, working in large
numbers in industrial centers, play a crucial role in the development of
nation. From the Atal Tunnel in Jammu to Mumbai’s Sea Link, from Bengaluru’s IT
establishments to Delhi’s under-construction buildings, all bear the imprint of
hardworking individuals from eastern India. Whether it is Army or BSF personnel
posted on the country’s borders, laborers growing crops in Punjab’s fields,
employees working in government offices and private institutions, or students
studying in prestigious educational institutions, all are shaping the India of
today and tomorrow in their unique ways.
Indian Railways has embarked on a new and
world-class journey by launching modern trains like Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat,
and Namo Bharat, equipped with advanced technology and facilities.
Additionally, over a thousand railway stations across the country are being
transformed into Amrit stations. The evolving picture of a changing India is
now reflected in the transformation of Indian Railways.
(Jaya Verma Sinha holds the distinction
of being the first woman to have served as Chairman and CEO of Indian Railways.
A PIB feature)
