Requesting Mr Lalu- The Rail Minister

Dear Lalu Ji,

I have been observing the degraded state of Indian Railways for quite some time. As a responsible citizen of India I could not resist the urge to pen down some of the many problems, which every common man faces while traveling in trains today. Therefore, in order to convey my feelings to you sir I am writing down this short letter.

No doubt India fully deserves credit for running one of the biggest and busiest railway networks in world. You have helped it achieve many other milestones, but I would suggest that you also pay attention to the problems that the common public faces. Lalu Ji, everyone knows that you are a `son of the soil`. Hence, nobody could be a better judge of the sufferings of the masses than you.

Here is a list of our many and routine troubles:

Overcrowded- Indian Railways reminds one of our 1.1 billion population. The platforms are overcrowded with rag pickers, beggars, fruit walas, chai-walas and loiterers. Every time I visit a station, I feel completely lost.

Maintenance & Cleanliness - Stations and platforms display a poor sense of hygiene and sanitation. One cannot avoid the sight of dirty tracks and unhygienic food available on the platforms, even if one tries. Stalls are so unclean. Even the pantry cars, which boasts of quality food is unhygienic. No water can be found in taps on trains and platforms. Never mind if the passenger dies of thirst. Both on platforms and in trains, green toilets are like a lost dream waiting to become true. Station architecture, platforms, trains design are just awful.

Sometimes I feel at a complete loss for words. Compartments are squalid and worst of all is the lavatories, which are sordid beyond believe. Tobacco stains stain the platforms, bleary-eyed travelers’ sleep on the floor, and stink of garbage rises up from the tracks. Other infrastructures like Fire safety devices, fans and lights are also in bad shape and therefore must also be looked after. Upper and middle class waiting rooms are badly maintained with broken chairs.Therefore, waiting rooms with good furniture should be constructed and strict rules regarding removal of beggars must be followed.

Trains should be equipped with modern resources and comply with all sanitation and hygiene requirements. Otherwise what is the purpose of huge gains (if I am not wrong Railways generated a profit of Rs 15000 Crores last year.)? In my opinion Laloo Ji the entire maintaining and cleaning job of platforms, tracks, toilets, rooms and waiting halls must be outsourced and given to private companies who will certainly beautify the stations for us.

Hazard trains- Trains are seen as the cheapest medium of conveyance but while traveling in India your journey can not be all that easy. First of all the trains never arrive and depart on time. Sometimes the reason for this is the lack of double lines; for e.g. Farakkha express that runs between Malada town and Delhi is the single train that runs up and down. So it is destined to become late. It starts late, reaches late, and then goes to the shed for servicing and therefore again starts late. The condition of many other trains is similar.

There are only 2-3 general compartments in any train while the tickets sold are far in excess of the available seats in these compartments; with the result that the sleeper boogie looks like a general compartment with people occupying every inch of space they could find.

Passenger trains running between important stations are very few. for e.g. only 2-3 passenger trains run between Kanpur and Lucknow. Delhi itself is poorly connected with the neighbouring districts, because of a lack of passenger trains, this increases the pressure on the other general trains passing through that route and also gives rise to unwanted activities like pick-pocketing.

Laloo Ji, some stations are not even connected, for e.g. Jammu is the last station in J&K and beyond that we have to look for other alternatives like bus and taxi which are comparatively costly.

Security for trains & passengers - Mumbai`s 26/11 attack was one of worst terrorist attack on the nation. The terrorists intentionally targeted crowded CST station. After the attacks all sorts of promises were made to strengthen and beef up the security measures. Railways, which remains one of the most overcrowded places does not have adequate security apparatus. Railway guards many a time do not even check passengers’ baggage and when they do they are quite lax.

CCTVs installed in the station are in a bad shape. To remind you Laloo Ji IR also remains the target of cross border and internal terrorist groups. After so many attacks including the Samjhauta express, there are still loopholes in security.

In the end I would like to say that though Railways is for the common man it does not mean that the common man has to travel in such pathetic conditions. I know that we owe the responsibility of not spoiling the railway stations and trains but if somebody is not following rules then it becomes the responsibility of Railways to enforce discipline, which in India is certainly the last thing on any person’s priority list.

Laloo Ji, the stringent measures and appropriate guidelines, which you have taken up, are definitely impressive but many more steps are needed to improve the pathetic conditions of the Indian Railways. I still remember clearly some of your very famous lines from the last years Rail Budget speech.

Sab kah rahe hain humne gazab kaam kiya hai,
Karoron ka munafa har ek shaam diya hai,
Phal salon yeh ab dega, paudha jo lagaya hai,
Sewa ka, samarpan ka, har farz nibhaya hai.

(Everyone is saying we have done great work,
Earning crores every day,
This sapling that we have planted will bear fruits for years,
We have fulfilled our duties to the full.)

This Railways profit, which you have been showing for the last two years, must be carefully utilized for the improvement of infrastructure and development of your sector. Thus, I request you to take stringent action against the erring officers and staff incharge of trains.

The Indian Railways needs to take this feedback very seriously since it is the lifeline of India and pride of the nation, and is sadly bringing shame and disgrace to its people.

I would also like to mention that these complaints are not just mine but describe the anguish and distress of many. I hope that through your distinguished administrative skills you will be able to upgrade the worst conditions prevailing in your sector otherwise all would say that-

Sab kah rahe hain aap gazab kaam kar gaye, Karoron ka munafa apne naam kar gaye.

(Every one is saying you have done great work You have looted the crores (the railways earned)

Yours truly Responsible citizen