In this interview, we sit down with a dedicated railway policy expert whose lifelong passion for trains has blossomed into an impactful career in railway policy and international relations. From childhood memories of watching trains to academic pursuits that culminated in advanced studies in public policy, their journey is a testament to the transformative potential of India’s railway system. They share insights on how the Indian railways shape the country’s socio-economic fabric, opportunities for green mobility, and the role of high-speed rail in modernization. Reflecting on India’s positioning in railway diplomacy and the pressing need for safety reforms, they offer a comprehensive perspective on the challenges and prospects of India’s railways in the 21st century.
The Social Digest: To start off, can you tell us a little about your journey? What inspired you to specialise in railway policies, and how did your background in public policy and international relations shape your interest in this field?
My interest in railways has been since childhood. I was often fascinated by the sight of trains and preserved any photos I came across about trains in the newspapers, or if I saw a train scene in a movie or serial, that was enough to fascinate me. My parents, too, played an essential role as they would let me know beforehand if any movie was based on trains (The Burning Train), and I would be motivated to complete my homework on time so I didn’t miss the film. But this evolved as I grew, and my interest in railways grew more profound. I started studying railways and writing blogs on railway policies after moving to college before professionally engaging in railways. The choice to pursue International Relations in my master’s and Public Policy in my M.Phil. and PhD was shaped by my love for railways and the need to understand the role of railways in forging cultural, economic and political relations between countries and also understand their role in a country’s domestic economy. This knowledge has led to publications with reputed think tanks and publications and invitations to universities for lectures.
The Social Digest: Railways in India have been referred to as the lifeline of the nation. In your opinion, how have the Indian railways shaped the socio-economic fabric of the country? Could you highlight some historical milestones where railways had a major impact on society?
India has a diverse population, each with its own cultural practices, beliefs, languages, and cuisines. Each state and region is known for its geographical distinction, and each city is known for its craft and monuments. Despite the diversity and distinct characteristics of India as a country, what binds the country together is our expansive railway system, which traverses the terrains and states, bringing people together irrespective of their economic status or their professions. Whether it’s a doctor, engineer or a student, no matter which state they belong to, as time passes, bonds are made, many of which become lifetime bonds. And not to forget the changing culinary preferences as the train traverses across zones and states. What can be a better anecdote than these to prove the significant role that the railways play in shaping the country’s socio-economic fabric? When talking about the milestones that have had a considerable impact on society is the long-drawn history of India’s ambition of establishing a high-speed rail network since the launch of Rajdhani in 1969, even as we await the first high-speed railway route between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, which has helped strengthen India’s global presence in forums such as the International Union of Railways, thus serving the dual purpose of not only promoting societal development but also projecting India as an emerging leader of developing nations in the high-speed rail domain.
The Social Digest: Railways can be an environmentally sustainable transport mode. What do you think is the potential of Indian railways in terms of promoting green mobility, and how do these efforts align with India’s broader climate goals?
The railways have immense potential in promoting green mobility, as they can carry a larger volume of traffic, both passenger and freight, than the roads and airways. Further, when we look at the railways from the point of view of alternative energy sources, we see that they are an appropriate mode of transport, given their prior experience with energy sources such as solar and electric energy. Further, as a signatory to essential climate treaties such as the COP26, India’s contribution to green mobility has become even more critical. While we may hail India’s electrification programme as a green alternative, we may need to reconsider our thoughts on it as much of the electricity needs are met from the thermal power plants. For long-term environmentally efficient rail transport, we need to further invest in researching alternative sources of electricity and look at non-electric fuel modes such as hydrogen, which aligns with the National Hydrogen Mission of the Indian Government. However, as mentioned, significant research needs to be done before realistically implementing them to help India achieve its broader climate goals.
The Social Digest: Railway modernization has been a significant part of the government’s agenda. How do you perceive the impact of initiatives like high-speed rail or upgraded freight corridors on ordinary people’s lives, especially in terms of safety, employment, and accessibility?
Railway modernisation has been a long-standing agenda of various governments who have been at the helm of India’s governance, and the significance that the railways carry for India’s domestic economy has only increased the focus on the need for modernising the 170-year-old railway system. The current government has been emphasising the modernisation of India’s railway system since its first tenure. However, to think of railway modernisation merely from the point of view of projects which involve financing and debt risks would be an economic blasphemy, considering the uncertainty of the forex market and the possible increase in debt. Undoubtedly, the projects will help generate employment and safer transportation of passenger and freight traffic. Accessibility in the context of high-speed railways remains questionable, considering its fare structure and the diversity in the economic profile of passengers travelling by Indian Railways. The bottom line is that integrating existing and future infrastructure with minimum external monetary assistance is the way forward, given the significant capital outlay projected by the government.
The Social Digest: You’ve spoken at the 6th Rail India Conference and have been invited internationally to share insights on Indian railway projects. What role do you think India can play on the global stage when it comes to railway diplomacy and fostering international cooperation?
Given the evolving forms of diplomacy, India’s railway network has a significant role in shaping the future of diplomacy, which it has been successfully shaping in the post-globalisation world order. China’s rapid progress in its debt-ridden BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) and cross-border rail connectivity have provided India with an excellent opportunity to reconsider its diplomatic approach.
India has actively advocated railway diplomacy with cross-border connectivity measures implemented proactively using a soft-power approach. India has been actively seeking global cooperation to modernize its aged railway infrastructure. Given the opportunities presented to India with active involvement by developed nations such as Japan, Germany, and France and institutions such as the World Bank and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, it is foremost important that the railways forego its bureaucratic attitude and be inclusive towards diverse outputs from various partners and stakeholders. To be a leader in the domain of railway diplomacy is a long walk. Given India’s dependence on other countries, India needs to redirect its focus on the active involvement of its institutions, such as RDSO (Research, Design and Standards Organisation) and its only transport institute, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya to strengthen its grassroots to be able to lead the global order in railway diplomacy.
The Social Digest: What is one aspect of railway development or policy that you believe deserves more public and policy attention in India?
Recently, there has been a growing concern regarding train accidents. This is not new to the Indian Railways network, which continues to grapple with issues related to the pace of modernization and deployment of critical safety components such as Kavach, which the stakeholders of the railways have repeatedly voiced out. Further, there is a pressing need to create an independent safety assessment and investigation board along the lines of America, which has the National Transportation Safety Board to conduct an impartial investigation into train accidents. While we have the Commissioner of Railway Safety to investigate such matters, the arms-length principle impedes the transparency of accident investigations as no information is disclosed, nor are the recommendations taken with the seriousness they ought to be taken. Therefore, it is vital that the railways seriously consider reorganizing their organizational structure to ensure their effective and transparent functioning as an administration.
The Social Digest: Finally As someone who is pursuing a PhD on the governance of high-speed rail in India, how do you envision the future of high-speed rail in the country? What kind of social transformations do you think these projects will trigger, and will they benefit the common citizen?
From what I have understood, the high-speed railway is a futuristic project, which means it would take atleast another decade for the high-speed rail project to be fully realised in the Indian context, given the multiple areas of focus and the uncertainty surrounding the patronage by the passengers that the railways wish to serve. The full scale of transformation will possibly be realised in another decade. Given the passenger profile, there is a possibility of more profound social inequality. But from a development perspective, the project will provide a boost to forthcoming projects such as the Dedicated Freight Corridor, which would alleviate the deep dive faced by the freight segment of the railways in the face of competition by road in terms of speed and cost-effectiveness. Concerning the high-speed, the benefits would be concentrated in a few pockets as the high-speed would have limited accessibility. The debt volatility and returns on investment are very dicey areas that need to be closely monitored even as we anticipate the future of a capital-intensive project such as the high-speed railways.
This interview was conducted by The Social Digest on 26/10/2024. If you have any interview recommendations or have a story that you want to share with our readers, write us at editor@thesocialdigest.com
