Ways of Indian Railways

Ways of Indian Railways under the Calcutta based Railway Minister.

Background:

May 16 2010.New Delhi: At least two people were killed and nine others injured in a stampede on Sunday afternoon at the New Delhi Railway Station. The dead include a woman and a child.

The stampede took place at platform numbers 12 and 13 at about 1450 hrs IST after last minute changes in the platform number from where the Bihar Sampark Kranti was to depart (CNN IBN).

May 17 2010: New Delhi: People coming to New Delhi Railway Station to see off their loved ones will not be able to enter platforms from Monday with the Railways deciding to stop sale of platform tickets to control crowd inside.

The decision came on Sunday night in the wake of a stampede in the railway station which claimed two lives and injured many others. (PTI)

The Impact

On June 1, a young mother in her early 30s had to board the evening Shatabadi at Ludhiana Station. She had two small kids (4 yrs and a toddler) with her. The train stops at Ludhiana all of 3 minutes. Her husband or relatives were NOT able to help her board the train because Platform Tickets have been discontinued, not just at New Delhi but also at other stations in the Punjab. It was a huge struggle for her, to manage her kids, her baggage and yet board the train. She managed it.

The same night, her relatives in Delhi deputed a driver to receive her at the Railway Station n bring her home. The resourceful driver bought a travel ticket worth Rs.250 to be able to enter the Railway Station. He could receive the young mother n her kids at the Platform and safely drive her home.

This is the way our hyper-active hyper- political Railway Minister runs the Railway Ministry.

First the Ministry claims that there was no stampede. Just some people slipped n fell and caused all the problem.

Then stop the people from coming to the Railway Station. Viola ! No more stampedes.

Naxalites derail a train. Stop running the trains at night. Voila No more derailments! (How we wish that the Aviation Minister takes a leaf out of her book n stops Air India planes from flying!)

I am praying very hard for her to win the next State Assembly Elections and become Chief Minister of West Bengal. In that event, West Bengal’s gain will be also Country’s Gain. The virus will be confined to that State.