Vande Bharat Sleeper Launch Sparks Debate on Affordability vs. Mass Transit Needs
Overview
India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train has debuted amid fanfare, but questions linger over its high cost and accessibility for ordinary passengers. Critics argue for a greater focus on enhancing affordable travel options like the Amrit Bharat Express to serve the vast majority of Indian rail travelers, rather than prioritizing premium services.
Premium Push vs. Mass Needs
India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train has been rolled out, heralded as a symbol of modern, comfortable rail travel. However, its projected higher cost, anticipated to surpass existing Rajdhani and Vande Bharat variants, places it beyond the reach of millions of poor and middle-income passengers. This new luxury service, launched in poll-bound Assam and West Bengal, highlights a widening chasm in railway priorities.
Historical Precedents and Current Gaps
The initiative draws a stark contrast with past railway reforms. In the late 1970s, Railway Minister Madhu Dandavate's introduction of cushioned berths in general coaches provided significant relief to the masses, a move lauded for its broad-reaching impact. Subsequent years have seen little comparable improvement for general class passengers, with initiatives like the Jana Sadharan Express offering only temporary respite.
The Unreserved Reality
Recent observations from the Delhi High Court regarding railway station stampedes underscore systemic issues. A former senior railway official noted a historical lack of attention to ordinary passengers' needs, a situation he believes has worsened. Over 80% of daily rail travelers, approximately 2.4 crore people, rely on general or unreserved compartments. While trains like the Antyodaya Express offer improved seating without reservation, the fundamental problem of overcrowding persists, exacerbated by insufficient capacity and a lack of stringent controls on ticket issuance when waiting lists are full.
Dignity on Rails
The Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that the right to life under Article 21 encompasses the right to live with dignity. This principle appears starkly at odds with the conditions faced by passengers in overcrowded general coaches, where people, including children and the elderly, often travel in unsanitary, unsafe conditions, resorting to using toilets and luggage racks for space. The current railway focus appears to be shifting from 'Garib Rath' to premium Vande Bharat and bullet trains, prioritizing the comfort of the affluent over the fundamental dignity of the majority. There is a growing demand for less Vande Bharat Sleeper variants and more Amrit Bharat Expresses, featuring improved amenities for general class passengers, to ensure the constitutional right to dignified travel is upheld for all.
