[sadhuji]

The ongoing debate of the new look railways versus low cost airlines will continue for a very long time but, please permit to place on record the fact that where there is a will, there is always a way. An example is the railway station at Nashik Road. I had been there this morning to see off my daughter-in-law and the renovated station left me speechless. I had read that a regular train service between Pune and Nashik Road will begin shortly, as informed by the Railway Minister in his budget and was impressed with the changes already effected. Details of the rail link are available here -

http://timesofindia....how/1689977.cms

Well, when I recollect the station as it was in 1966 (more than 40 years back) when I first set foot on this city, I become nostalgic. Those were the days of the one horse carriages, fondly known as the Tonga apart from those huge taxis of the Ford make. There would hardly be any rail traffic of importance that passed through this station and the halts of mail or express trains were for a couple of minutes. In fact, after the last train of the day went by at around midnight, the platform lights would be turned off and policemen would patrol the deserted platforms and ask questions of whoever was seen on the benches. Outside, just in front of the station building was the State Transport bus stand and next to it the Tonga stand. I remember when I would arrive from Calcutta (not Kolkata!) at around two o’ clock in the morning and would have to go to Deolali where I used to stay, I had to take the tonga. Later, when I moved to Ojhar, I had to either wait for the early morning bus or take a taxi – of the Ford or Hudson variety. These have now been replaced by the Ambassadors and, of course, there are the auto rickshaws.

The Nashik Road station today is one of the busiest and the platform and the waiting rooms are spic and span – the furniture in the waiting rooms have been totally replaced with new ones of the latest designs and the flooring is of granite tiles. Even the railway tracks are clean to whatever extent possible – as I waited for the train to arrive, I saw two sweepers literally picking up the litter from the tracks. If only all of us had the social consciousness of making use of the litter bins that are installed in prominent places, the complete atmosphere would have been more beautiful.

Ministers can formulate policies, they can prevail upon the Government of the day to grant provisions in the budget to make way for necessary finances, they can make speeches and try to convince the common man but, finally, it is the working group who need motivation to give of their best. I am not aware of what goes on behind the scenes but, the way this railway station is getting transformed, I must express my gratitude to all those who are making these things happen.