NCR - maar bhi, raftaar bhi - Harshit Sharma

Thanks for the detailed info
Politicisation, Departmentalisation & Monopoly (lack of competition) had lead to a situation where railway, the most efficient mode of transport is losing its share of traffic to roadways and airways, and is not in position to play the expected role effectively for people as well as nation.
The strong commitments earlier made by the present govt.pertaining to IR, that they mean only business, have gradually fizzled out with consecutive defeats in Bihar, Delhi assembly elections. like:
(1)...
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Stoppages of SF trains shall be cancelled so as to a have stop every 200-300 kms, no further new stoppages shall be to existing trains- today new stoppages are being granted to existing trains in mass.
(2) A yer and half back,itwas announced that no new trains shall be started till substantial capacity augmentation takes place the the super saturated network. Today new trains are being introduced especially in poll bound states.
(3) In 2014 Govt was talking about reduction of passenger subsidies and its elimination in long run - today it is not touching second class general fares (even in the much improved Mahamana Express!) Instead premium tatkal/ premium/ Suvidha/ Flexi-fares are being launched to fleece the middle/upper middle class pax. Govt think those who do not have BPL cards are very rich and they can pay any amount for their travel. They may be right in the sense that many wealthy people have BPL cards, then non-BPL card holders must be richer than those!!
(4) Priority to Zonal & Divisional HQ still continues.
A lot more will power is required at political as well as departmental level for IR to tread the path of growth & excellence.