The punctuality of locomotives holds a peculiar fascination for the Indian masses. “At least the trains ran on time” has been used to excuse everything, from colonialism to the Emergency, and the chronic tardiness of the Indian railways has become a symbol, justified or not, of sarkari inefficiency. Now, Southern and Northern Railway have figured out something that casinos and crime bosses have long known: If you can’t beat the game, change the rules. Railway Ministry officials have, in view of increased delays due to large-scale maintenance works, increased the travel time of some 95 trains. Effectively, these trains, like royalty, can never be late. The subjects will adjust.
Smart alec naysayers may say, as is their wont, that changing the schedule to claim trains run on time is cheating — a bit of bureaucratic fiddling that makes sure the system meets targets and looks good. Such confirmed cynics fail to see the bigger picture. Like the parent who discovers that children must follow their dreams after watching 3 Idiots, the Government of India is on a path of openness and understanding. Unlike an earlier era, where targets were set and went by unmet, leading to a sense of failure and despondency, officialdom can now sleep well knowing that they don’t need to speed up because their goalposts will meet them half-way.
