Your level of devotion to it determines the success of a structure.
Audrely , Moralez
No matter how advanced or well-organized a system may be, the emphasis on personal relationship is crucial to its usefulness.
India has the fourth-largest rail network in the world, following the United States, Russia and China. It serves around 23 million people on 14, 000 trains everyday. However, Indian Railways ‘ record is severely subpar in terms of customer services and road safety in comparison to its international competitors.
Over 100, 000 train-related deaths occurred in India between 2017 and 2021, according to a 2022 review published by the National Crime Records Bureau. In addition to educate collisions, this figure includes instances of passengers being struck by speeding trains and fell from vehicles.  ,
Most lately, on October 27, at least 10 people were injured, with two in critical condition, following a panic at Mumbai’s active Bandra Terminal triggered by a wave of travellers returning to their communities for the future Diwali and Chhath events. The event was captured on video, which became popular on social media.  ,
Major Indian facilities have experienced a sizable passenger increase. During breaks, people who have migrated to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore for several reasons—mainly employment—head house by train.  ,
A report 7, 345 fresh special railways are operating during the holiday season, according to Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. But, the reality on the ground reveals that procedures are limited.
People are being forced to sit in toilet due to overcrowding. Similar circumstances were observed last year and in previous years, but this problem is not fresh. It is prevalent across some trains.
Despite the Narendra Modi government’s increased railroad investment, the majority of the funding has been focused on developing new trains ( like the Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat ), improving speed and comfort, with little particular attention being paid to maintaining or improving the safety of thousands of older trains.
Overworked and accident-prone
The Ministry of Railways reports that in the 2023-24 fiscal year, there were 313 customer deaths and four railway worker fatalities in , 40 station accidents, the highest quantity in a century.
In 2024, there have already been 12 railroad injuries. The , 2022 annual report by India’s top inspection body, CAG, cites critical evaluation shortfalls, delayed investigation reports, misuse of dedicated railway funds, declining track renewal funding and unsatisfactory staffing in safety operations as essential factors behind these accidents.
According to the bridge president’s claims in Parliament, there are 312, 000 non-gazette American Railways posts vacant across the country. More than 27, 763 coaches ( 62 % ) lack fire extinguishers, violating regulations. This , indicates weak control, resulting in the loss of lives and livelihoods.
Also, ticket prices and accessibility raise additional concerns. Under the Modi government, the average fare per train passenger per kilometer has surged by 107 % ( from 0.32 rupees in 2013-14 to 0.66 in 2021-22 ).
In contrast, during the Manmohan Singh government, the average fare increased only 33 % ( from 0.24 in 2003-04 to 0.32 in 2013-14 ). Despite this suffer boost, implying higher earnings and funds to invest, support value has declined, never improved, over time.
India’s carriages are also bywords for overcrowding, poor health and difficulties. Individuals frequently share videos that show that they cannot use their reserved seats despite having reserved seats.
Is there something more at play than just increased need and the railroad’s inability to accurately determine customer power, or does it raise a bigger issue?
Scam in illusion
Railway tickets can be purchased in India at railway stations or online through the official website (e-ticketing ). Reservation offices are located at every main railroad depot.
Tickets are typically categorized as Unreserved or Reserved, with the latter divided into three types: Confirmed, RAC ( Reservation Against Cancellation ), and General Waitlist ( GNWL ).
A confirmed ticket guarantees a reserved seat, RAC indicates that you will be sharing a berth, and GNWL indicates that you do n’t have a confirmed seat but may be given one in the event of a cancellation.
The Modi government’s policy of changing the cancellation policy in 2020 will encourage paperless ticketing and stop agencies and touts from selling on the black market. Under the new rules, cancellation charges for unreserved, RAC, and waitlisted tickets are 30 rupees for unreserved ( second class ) and 60 rupees for second class ( reserved ), plus goods &, service tax ( GST ), if canceled more than 30 minutes before the train’s scheduled departure. If canceled within 30 days of departure, no payment is granted.
This means that Indian Railways is making money off of passengers for the cancellation of a berth that was n’t even scheduled. What many consider to be an unfair exercise, if not a complete fraud, is also further enhanced by the inclusion of GST.
Indian Railways made an astonishing$ 1, 229.85 crore ( approximately$ 153.7 million ) from customers who purchased tickets from the waiting list but ultimately chose not to travel, according to recent Right to Information filings. This averages out to over ₹400 crore ($ 50 million ) per year.
This suggests that Indian Railways might purposefully withdraw cancellation fees from overall fares for passengers by keeping more RAC and waiting names. For example, during Halloween year last month, from November 5 to 17, the Railways recorded 9.618 million solution delays, including confirmed, RAC, and waitlisted cards.
4.78 million delays, or 49 %, came from enrolled people, according to the Center for Railway Information System, across all limits. In addition, Indian Railways made 10 crores ($ 1.18 million ) from ticket cancellations that had a final waiting list status during that week.
As 99 % of road tourists come from poor and middle-income background, the thousands generated from waiting seat cancellations gouge the world’s most vulnerable. This withdrawal cost places a burden on the average person, especially bad migrant workers who rely on trains to get around town to support their families.
This essentially undermines the Modi government’s ability to make road travel a safe and convenient method of public transport.