INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURE

www.kochousephchittilappilly.comwww.kochousephchittilappilly.com

Someone asked, "Which is the longest Someone asked, "Which is the longest toilet in the World?" Pat came the reply, toilet in the World?" Pat came the reply, "The Indian Railways". "The Indian Railways".

  Come to think of it, isn't it true? Our Come to think of it, isn't it true? Our Railways crisscross the country, from Railways crisscross the country, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. But, our Kashmir to Kanyakumari. But, our experiences with the railways have always experiences with the railways have always been harrowing. been harrowing.

The few, cramped, trains that we have, The few, cramped, trains that we have, chug along, running late and polluting the chug along, running late and polluting the environment. environment.

It looks like our Indian Railways is yet to It looks like our Indian Railways is yet to hear of modern means of waste disposal.  hear of modern means of waste disposal. 

On my recent trip to China, I had to On my recent trip to China, I had to connect between a few cities by train. I connect between a few cities by train. I was quite apprehensive, perhaps, was quite apprehensive, perhaps, stemming from my experiences with Indian stemming from my experiences with Indian Railways Railways

One of the journeys was from Canton to One of the journeys was from Canton to Hengyang on a high speed bullet train. Hengyang on a high speed bullet train. Canton South Railway Station looked Canton South Railway Station looked more like an airport. All baggage was more like an airport. All baggage was screened at the entrance. screened at the entrance.

From an elevated entrance, the From an elevated entrance, the passengers reached the platforms through passengers reached the platforms through their respective gates. their respective gates.

The tickets were checked electronically. The tickets were checked electronically. The gates opened only 15 minutes before The gates opened only 15 minutes before the departure time. the departure time.

The interiors of the bullet train resemble The interiors of the bullet train resemble an aircraft, almost and the crew was an aircraft, almost and the crew was smartly dressed, alert and quick to smartly dressed, alert and quick to respond to the needs of the passengers. respond to the needs of the passengers.

The Train quickly reached its cruising The Train quickly reached its cruising speed at 300 Km/hr. I realized that the speed at 300 Km/hr. I realized that the train was moving, only when I looked out. train was moving, only when I looked out.

  On one occasion, we could even pre-On one occasion, we could even pre-pone our tickets, at no extra cost, though pone our tickets, at no extra cost, though we had to stand all the way.  we had to stand all the way. 

The Chinese have already built about The Chinese have already built about 5000 kms of high speed rail. I travelled on 5000 kms of high speed rail. I travelled on the bullet trains several times during my the bullet trains several times during my trip. It was a different experience, trip. It was a different experience, altogether. altogether.

I couldn't but help compare the I couldn't but help compare the infrastructure in China to ours. Recently, I infrastructure in China to ours. Recently, I happened to listen to Dr. C. Rangarajan, happened to listen to Dr. C. Rangarajan, Chairman of the Prime Minister's Chairman of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council. Economic Advisory Council.

He was candid enough to admit that India He was candid enough to admit that India was undertaking only about 1/5th of its was undertaking only about 1/5th of its infrastructure projects, when compared to infrastructure projects, when compared to China. China.

  My experience has left me wondering, My experience has left me wondering, 'How long will it take to replicate this in 'How long will it take to replicate this in India?' There is no adequate land to meet India?' There is no adequate land to meet industrial needs. industrial needs.

  Our roads continue to be narrow and filled Our roads continue to be narrow and filled with pot holes. Our weak infrastructure is with pot holes. Our weak infrastructure is creaking under tremendous pressure. creaking under tremendous pressure.

Yet, our politicians boast about investor Yet, our politicians boast about investor meets and preach of the need to attracting meets and preach of the need to attracting investment. Do you honestly think that investment. Do you honestly think that there will be development without there will be development without improving our infrastructure? improving our infrastructure?

Strong, adequate infrastructure is an Strong, adequate infrastructure is an essential concomitant of vibrant industrial essential concomitant of vibrant industrial growth. growth.

Our politicians and administrators would Our politicians and administrators would do well to take a cue from China. They do well to take a cue from China. They should rather visit the country. Certainly, should rather visit the country. Certainly, there are lessons to be learned. there are lessons to be learned.

Contact UsContact Us

www.vguard.inwww.vguard.in

www.kochousephchittilappilly.comwww.kochousephchittilappilly.com