Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a train journey from Bilaspur to Raipur in the Intercity Express train during his visit to Chhattisgarh. The event saw him engaging openly with fellow passengers, accompanied by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Deputy Chief Minister T S Singhdeon, and Congress state president Deepak Baij.
Sushil Anand Shukla, chief of the media cell for the Congress in Chhattisgarh, explained Rahul Gandhi’s intent, stating, “Rahul wanted to understand all the grievances of passengers. A lot of trains are getting cancelled or delayed in Chhattisgarh, and railway properties are being privatised by the Central government.”
According to information obtained through an RTI reply, 2,682 passenger trains passing through Raipur faced cancellations at some point between last year and April this year, with ongoing delays affecting many others.
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Taking a swipe at the BJP, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel commented on the visibility of the Railway Minister, stating, “The railway minister is often noticed only during rail accidents, while the Prime Minister takes centre stage when inaugurating new train services.”
Baghel reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s launch of nine Vande Bharat trains across 11 states on the same day, emphasising the frequent cancellations of trains catering to common passengers in Chhattisgarh.
He continued, “Trains that are flagged off are either small or have no passengers because the journey on these trains has become very expensive. The trains that used to have a continuous flow of passengers are being cancelled every now and then, and the Prime Minister does not address this issue. Moreover, the inauguration of the rail corridor by the Prime Minister is not for passengers; it is for coal transportation.”
The BJP countered these concerns by asserting that the inconveniences are temporary and necessary for the greater good, as new railway lines are being established. Railway officials support this claim, although they refrain from specifying a completion deadline for the projects.
State BJP chief and Lok Sabha MP Arun Sao accused the Congress of employing “diversionary” tactics by highlighting train cancellations, asserting that public sentiment was turning against the Baghel government.
He stated, “The reality is that a lot of improvement has been brought about at railway stations in Chhattisgarh, and new development work is on. Very soon, people will benefit from it. I am in regular touch with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and senior railway officials.”
Former IAS officer-turned-BJP leader O P Choudhary commented on the historical context, saying, “For 50 years after Independence, the Congress did not do the work that was needed to improve the railways. But under Modiji, capital expenditure increased nine times in 2023 as compared to 2014. Historic work is being done.”