GD/WAT Topic: Vande Bharat - How does it help India?

The Vande Bharat was envisaged as the gamechanger that would pivot India’s internal transport to superpower status. It is almost completely built indigenously, so gets covered under the Atmanirbhar Bharat ideology as well. So far, about ten lines have been launched. Let's explore it as a GD topic for MBA admission.

By Aritro Dasgupta

The Vande Bharat train announced a few years back, promised to be a game changer. Some of these trains have already been launched, with many more in the pipeline. The idea seems to have worked and the Vande Bharat is well on course to changing the dynamics of domestic travel within India. Of course, there have been several glitches so far, but that is par for the course and students who participate in a Group Discussion (GD) must be able to consider both positive and negative points in this. Before we delve in the depths of the pros and cons of the Vande Bharat in particular, we need to understand the importance of a new-age train system.

To understand the significance of trains, the continent of Europe could be an ideal starting point. Europe is a continent comprising of about fifty odd countries, many of which fall under the Schengen Agreement, which guarantees free movement of people across borders. Some of western Europe’s biggest cities such as Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona and Vienna are interconnected so well, to be traversable within a few hours of journey from each. Now, even eastern Europe has likewise been connected. That is the dream for India. Having world-class a train network, reduces the need for air travel, and improves connectivity. It is well-known how air travel and personal cars play a major role in increasing air pollution, so train connectivity is the need of the hour.

The Vande Bharat was envisaged as the gamechanger that would pivot India’s internal transport to superpower status. It is almost completely built indigenously, so gets covered under the Atmanirbhar Bharat ideology as well. So far, about ten lines have been launched. Some of the major end points covered include New Delhi, Howrah, Varanasi, Mumbai, Gandhinagar, Mysuru, Chennai, Nagpur, Bilaspur and Visakhapatnam. Many more are being planned as well. GD participants will need to be well-informed about the pros and cons of this network. Some of the recent controversies and failures will also be discussed, so the students may choose either side of the argument, as long as the logic is sound.

GD Topic: Vande Bharat - How does it help India?

Let us understand both sides of the debate.

Vande Bharat Train: Pros

Following are some of the pros of the Vande Bharat Express lines:

1. Quick connectivity between end points is now achievable.
2. High-speed trains are much better to combat climate change, as they reduce the need for fuel-guzzling private cars and airplanes.
3. Brings international renown, as India would inch closer to fulfilling climate agenda goals, discussed on various international forums.
4. Will boost tourism, through improved connectivity.
5. Several ancillary industries will get a boost, such as in-train services, entertainment on stations and booking platforms.
6. These trains are mostly produced in India, so a massive boost for manufacturing here.
7. The hygiene standards maintained and generally better than other, outdated train lines.
8. The cost of travel on these trains is higher than other trains, but still less than air travel.
9. With the success of the first few lines, more are being planned that will connect other parts of the country, including more remote regions.
10. Services such as internet connectivity and in-train magazine are being mooted, which will improve the ability of professionals to work during travel.
11. Eventually there could be plans to connect with other countries as well, thanks also to the success of some lines with Bangladesh and Nepal.

Vande Bharat Train: Cons

Now, let us view some of the failures so far and key challenges ahead:

1. While big cities and being connected via this line, it still does not solve the problem of connectivity at lesser-serviced places, as the feeder services have not been boosted, but only the existing best trains such as the Shatabdi have been upgraded.
2. The initial costs are immense, thus raising questions of long-term viability.
3. The environmental benefits will only accrue, if people start using Vande Bharat trains instead of airplanes or private cars, but so far those signs are elusive, and merely the Shatabdi and Rajdhani traffic is being diverted to Vande Bharat.
4. While the trains may be cleaner, the stations need an overhaul.
5. The internet connectivity and other such services remain unreliable.
6. There have been a few accidents already, raising alarms about the quality of manufacturing.
7. There are plans to decongest railway lines, by creating walls that won’t allow domestic or wild animals to cross them. This raises concerns for animal welfare and human occupations, since animals need to cross over sometimes.

Students will thus need to pick out points from both or either of the positive and negatives and frame their responses accordingly. A GD aspirant is not judged on the facts alone but on how one puts across these points. So, a mix of good and bad, but with an overall positive outlook could work wonders for the candidate. A student is usually tested on the 4 Cs of GDs- Clarity, Communication, Confidence and Content. All four must work in tandem. Team work is also necessary, as it should not appear that there is a candidate who wants to overpower the other participants. But a proactive, participatory approach is what is considered idea.

 

About the Author:

Aritro Dasgupta is a Teacher, Trainer and Content Writer. He has taught at several leading colleges and coaching institutes in both India and the UAE. Several of his students have finished in the top 10 of various national level exams such as CLAT, AILET and DUJAT. He is also a prolific content writer, having written for several leading publications in India, while currently, also working for one in the USA.

 

 

 

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