Train 18’s launch was a proud moment for the country. The whole process of design and manufacture cost only around ₹100 crore, half of what a similar project would cost in many nations. It was no less an achievement than Chandrayaan and arguably of far more immediate practical value for Indians. Many countries, particularly those in South-East Asia, even evinced interest in purchasing the model. One would have thought that an achievement of this magnitude would receive the wholehearted backing of the government. But, incredibly, it got shelved, due to issues like non-transparency in procurement of parts. Surely, if there were irregularities, they could have been addressed without throwing the baby out with the bathwater (Op-Ed page, “Mission successful, end product defunct”, Sept. 16)?
Sunil K. S.,
Gudalur, Tamil Nadu