In “India needs to speed up on high-speed trains” (August 11), Raghu Dayal has articulated an excellent viewpoint about the need for high-speed railways. Apart from addressing the environmental concerns, a good service can easily recoup its costs, especially when air travel is fraught with its own attendant risks. The article clearly reflects the prevailing mindset and the priorities allotted to the creation of public infrastructure.
High cost has often been cited as a constraint in building high-speed railways. Yet, it is possible to recover costs over a period of time and, indeed, earn profits. A very apt case in point here is Delhi Metro. It should have come years before it actually got conceptualised; and in a country known for its typical cost overruns, Delhi Metro has stuck to schedule and delivered a good performance. Single-minded devotion and focused energies even in the public sector can achieve results.
Priorities need to be chalked out for building railway infrastructure. Apart from the creation of a lasting railway network, high-speed trains have the potential of building credible employment opportunities.
Abhishek Puri, on email