NEW DELHI: It is not just harmonious relationships with our neighbouring nations, rescuing Indians stuck in foreign land or communicating via Twitter with countrymen in distress abroad that is keeping External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj busy. On top of her mind is also something new—rail diplomacy.
Swaraj has written a letter to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu proposing a partnership between Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Railways to acquaint the diplomatic community in New Delhi—ambassadors and other diplomats—about the various ongoing schemes of Indian Railways for investment, modernisation and tourism promotion.
Also proposed is a mega event where railways can make presentations of its key projects and tourism circuits and luxury trains such as Maharaja Express and Palace on Wheels. Even hosting diplomats on these trains has also been suggested.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has proposed a mega event in which the Railways can present its key projects, tourism circuits and luxury trains. Hosting diplomats on these trains has also been suggested.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has assigned the task in her ministry to Partha Satpathy, Joint Secretary (States), to coordinate with the Railways. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has asked Executive Director NFR (non fare revenue) and Executive Director Planning, Railway Board, to discuss the plans.
“We in the MEA are appreciative of the critical role of the Ministry of Railways in serving as the lifeline of the country as well as the various innovative schemes being launched for its modernisation and efficiency,” Sushma said in her letter to Prabhu on July 19.
Suggesting that it would be an opportunity for Indian Railways to provide an overview of its tourism rail circuits such as Palace on Wheels and Deccan Odyssey, Swaraj proposed distributing DVDs and coffee table books about them at the event.
To engaging the diplomatic community and enhance familiarity with flagship tourism rail circuits, “it would also be useful if Ministry of Railways could consider hosting batches of ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives on these specific trains. This could be a way of promoting such outstanding facets of Indian Railways tourism opportunities to other countries,” she added.
Many countries, including Japan, China, France and Germany, are working with Indian Railways on bullet train projects and to increase the speed of trains. India is also building rail lines in neighbouring Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bangladesh.