Morning Standard, Sep 27, 2025

Key Arguments

1. Railways as Connectors of Opportunity
   ○ Indian Railways has historically shaped mobility and social imagination, from Doordarshan serials to modern luxury trains.
   ○ The new Amrit Bharat Express connects small towns with larger economic hubs, especially benefiting migrant workers.

2. Role of Amrit Bharat Express
   ○ Designed for long-distance, budget-conscious travelers, offering sleeper-class journeys up to 4,000 km at low costs.
   ○ Provides higher speed (110–130 km/h) and modern amenities such as LED lights, CCTVs, and disabled-friendly features.
   ○ Enhances affordable mobility for job-seeking migrants from poorer states to employment-rich regions.

3. Changing Patterns of Migration
   ○ Migrants from Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and other states rely heavily on trains to reach industrial hubs.
   ○ New routes like Darbhanga–Anand Vihar, Erode–Tirupati, and Amritsar–Mumbai strengthen regional integration.

4. Comparison with Vande Bharat Express
   ○ Vande Bharat – aspirational, high-speed travel for the middle class.
   ○ Amrit Bharat – inclusivity-driven, targeting working-class and migrant travelers.
   ○ Together they represent two faces of railway modernization: prestige vs inclusivity.

Author’s Stance

● Supportive of Amrit Bharat Express as a socially symbolic project bridging prosperity and accessibility.
● Appreciative of the government’s effort to democratize travel, contrasting it with the elitist perception of Vande Bharat.

Possible Biases

● Celebrates inclusivity but underplays challenges such as delays, overcrowding, and safety concerns.
● Focuses more on symbolism and aspiration than on financial and infrastructural constraints.
● Less attention to sustainability and long-term viability of low-cost long routes.

Pros

● Highlights inclusivity by focusing on migrant workers and poorer states.
● Acknowledges dual role of Indian Railways: prestige (Vande Bharat) and accessibility (Amrit Bharat).
● Connects transport development with social mobility and economic opportunity.
● Places railways in the context of India’s demographic realities.

Cons

● Ignores financial strain on Indian Railways due to subsidized fares.
● Overlooks infrastructural constraints like congestion, outdated tracks, and safety lapses.
● Limited focus on environmental sustainability of increased long-distance travel.
● May be overly optimistic about symbolic value translating into prosperity.

Policy Implications

1. GS Paper I (Geography & Society):
○ Migration patterns, regional disparities, rural–urban mobility.

2. GS Paper II (Governance & Policy):
○ Railways as a tool for inclusive development.
○ Welfare policies for migrants and equitable mobility.

3. GS Paper III (Infrastructure & Economy):
○ Transport infrastructure and logistics efficiency.
○ Employment linkages through affordable connectivity.

4. GS Paper IV (Ethics):
○ Equity and justice in public policy.
○ Balancing elite aspirations with the needs of the masses.

Real-World Impact

● Positive – Affordable travel for migrants, better access to jobs, national integration.
● Challenges – Operational sustainability, subsidy burden, overcrowding, and last-mile connectivity issues.
● Strategic – Enhances India’s image as a nation modernizing railways while ensuring inclusivity.

Balanced Summary and Future Perspectives

The Amrit Bharat Express represents a new chapter in inclusive mobility, offering affordable long-distance travel for migrant workers and small-town travelers. It complements the Vande Bharat Express, symbolizing a balance between prestige and accessibility. However, financial sustainability, safety, and infrastructural constraints remain pressing challenges.

Future Outlook:
● Strengthen safety and efficiency measures in budget rail travel.
● Improve infrastructure capacity to reduce congestion.
● Explore sustainable financing models to balance subsidies and modernization.
● Integrate Amrit Bharat with last-mile connectivity and smart ticketing solutions.
● Position it as part of India’s inclusive development agenda, linking mobility with social justice.