A different track: Indian Railways puts profit over politics

In the run-up to the Union budget, several members of Parliament still frequent the Rail Bhawan. One of their strident demands is a survey for a new railway line in their constituency. The survey is the starting point of a new project. It does not need a big budget but manages to send a political message of development among the constituents. As the Indian Railways continues to call the shots on technical matters even after ceding its financial autonomy in 2017 — when the railway budget was merged with the Union budget — MPs don’t go to the North Block with a railway proposal as the finance ministry only puts the finishing touches to the paragraphs relating to railways that figure in the budget speech.