Mumbai is a maximum city with minimum infrastructure and the Elphinstone bridge tragedy goes to prove that human lives are mere statistics in a city that fuels economic growth of our country. Several innocent lives were lost only because the rail authorities could not build an overhead bridge of decent size which was an absolute necessity that could have only cost a few lakhs of rupees. The bullet train between Mumbai-Ahmedabad would cost over one lakh crores of rupees which is a national waste and a gimmick at a time when even basic rail facilities are missing for the common man.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a man of vision but seems shortsighted overlooking the basic demands for the poor in the country. The Bullet train plan needs to be aborted and postponed till the time the basic rail facilities are improved as well as made safer for commuters. Rail Minister Piyush Goel should order audit of all overhead rail bridges in the country and spend money on proper infrastructure before advising Prime Minister on the Bullet train project.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
