Today, 16 th April 2024, is the 171st anniversary of the running of the first train in India. The journey was on 16 th April 1853 from Bori Bunder in Bombay to Thane, a distance of 21 miles with 13 carriages and 400 passengers. It was run by three locomotives named Sahib, Sultan and Sindh. The train was flagged off by Lord Dalhousie, then Viceroy of British India. The Railway’s name was Great Indian Peninsular Railway, a private company.
Now Indian Railways, run under the direct control of the Government, is the biggest railways, second only to China’s. Modi government, as part of its neo- liberal policy and corporate nexus, is making all machinations to hand over the same to corporates. The workers continue their struggles to improve the services and keep it with the government. This great popular service organisation should continue with the government as before for the benefit of the people.
V A N 16.04.2024