Letter to PM

The following letter was written to our PM on my return from Varanasi regarding the situation in the railways

10.02.2011
The Prime Minister,
Shri Manmohan Singh,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Although my letter should not be written to you since it pertains to the railways, I have to write to you because she Ms Mamata Banerjee, the railway minister, is never in Delhi as her priority is West Bengal while you watch like Nero fiddling away while Rome burnt, watch helplessly while your cabinet colleagues underperform, first Raja and now Mamata Banerjee. You forget when history looks back it will look at Manmohan Singh’s non-performance rather than Raja’s or Mamata’s.
On 8.2.2011, my wife and I were booked by Poorva Express Train No 12382 from Varanasi to Howrah. The train was to arrive at Varanasi at 5.28 AM.
On the previous night I had enquiredand found out through 139 using Varanasi STD Code that the train would arrive at Varanasi 4 hrs late. However, using Delhi Code, I found through 139 that the train was leaving Delhi 7 Hrs late.
The next morning since we had to vacate the marriage house we went to the railway station at 7.30 am planning to pass 3 hours in the waiting room.
At 10.00 am we were told by the station enquiry that the train would come by 10.28 am on platform # 9, so both of us went to the platform.
10.28 am passed with no sign of the train.
At 11.00 am an announcement was made that the train would come by 12.15 PM. Sitting on the platform, I again dialed 139 to enquire and they still maintained that the train would come by 10.28 am
12.15 pm came and went but with no sign of the train. The announcements came periodically gradually shifting the arrival time to 13.30 Hrs, then 14.15 hrs and then 15.08 hours.
At 15.08 hrs, we were told that the train was coming on platform # 5. Now you can imagine the plight of two aged people with heart problem standing on platform # 9 having to run with luggage to platform # 5 since no coolies were available at that time. My wife almost collapsed on the overbridge. Fortunately, just at that time a coolie came and carried our luggage to the train which was standing on the platform. It meant, the announcement of the platform was made after the train had entered the platform.



We finally reached Howrah station at 3.00 am in the morning, 9 hours behind schedule.
On the journey to Varanasi on 3.2.2011 by Vibhuti Express, Train No 12333, the train which was to leave at 20.00 hours, left at 02.30 Hours, 6 ½ hours behind schedule. Fortunately, here too I had enquired through 139 at 6.00 Pm and was told that the train would leave by 2.00 am and hence we reached Howrah station only at 00.30 am. Just imagine the plight of passengers who reached Howrah station before 20.00 hrs to catch the train.
This train finally reached Varanasi at around 7.00 PM on 4.2.2011
The above are not just stray incidents.
Nowadays, invariably, all trains are running late.
Is there no accountability?
Is anybody held accountable if trains run late or do we need another emergency for the trains to run in time?
Have we made an analysis division wise of the percentage of trains running late?
We all agree you are an honest man but we also require a PM who performs and does not allow things to drift.
Yours sincerely,

Radheshyam Sharma
188, Bangur Avenue,
B-Block,
Kolkata - 700055