Earlier this year, during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Railways showed its adaptability when flights were canceled at Kangra Airport. A special Vande Bharat Express was arranged to transport teams from Himachal Pradesh’s Una to Delhi. Now, in light of recent disruptions, with over 750 IndiGo flights canceled, the resilience of the Indian Railways stands out even more.
Many users on social media noted, “This is a big chance for Indian Railways to expand.” One even joked about IndiGo’s challenges, saying, “Is IndiGo being run by Indian Railways now?”
While the situations aren’t identical, they highlight a crucial fact: the Indian Railways can respond quickly in times of need. With thousands of travelers stranded, this is a perfect moment for the Railways to remind us of its importance. It has an opportunity to provide relief by adding more coaches and special trains on busy routes, along with long-term plans for high-speed rail.
### Adding Coaches to Meet Demand
The Northern Railway’s Delhi division has already started to help. They’ve added coaches to major trains like the Jammu Tawi and Dibrugarh Rajdhani. While more needs to be done, this is a solid first step toward addressing immediate needs.
Many flights have high prices or are sold out. Consider the case of a doctor from Dibrugarh heading to a conference. She ended up stuck in Delhi and had to book a hotel. With ticket prices soaring to ₹20,000-₹30,000, she had no choice but to present her lecture via Zoom.
If the Indian Railways can seize this moment, it could mitigate hardships for many travelers like her. By quickly mapping out critical routes and enhancing services, they could significantly ease the burden.
### Reflecting on High-Speed Rail Ambitions
This situation also offers the Indian Railways a chance to revisit its long-held goals for high-speed and semi-high-speed rail. Currently, many so-called “semi-high-speed” trains don’t meet their promised speeds. For example, Vande Bharat trains between Delhi and Agra operate at 130 km/h instead of the expected 160 km/h.
If India had a robust high-speed rail network, travelers on lengthy routes could save valuable time. Imagine slashing travel from Kolkata to Mumbai, typically over 30 hours by train, down to just a few hours.
This isn’t just about speed; it’s about offering more reliable options when disruptions occur. Although bullet train initiatives are commendable, delays have slowed progress. Now is the time to refocus efforts on execution, ensuring the Indian Railways truly becomes the lifeline it aims to be.
By embracing this opportunity, the Railways can enhance its reputation as a dependable alternative for citizens, especially during times of crisis.
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