Jyotiraditya Scindia reveals inside story of birth of Shatabdi Express trains and foil-wrapped food in Indian Railways
Vande Bharat trains, which are semi-high speed and self-propelled and which showcase India's indigenous manufacturing capabilities. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Shatabdi Express trains held a similar status, often referred to as «desi bullet trains.» These day trains typically return to their origin station on the same day, offering high-speed connectivity between major cities with minimal intermediate stops.
In a recent interview, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, son of former Railway Minister Madhavrao Scindia, shed light on the genesis of the Shatabdi Express trains. Madhavrao Scindia inaugurated the first Shatabdi Express in 1988, linking Delhi and Jhansi to commemorate Jawaharlal Nehru's birth centenary. An accomplished administrator, Madhavrao Scindia left a lasting legacy during his tenure as Railway Minister from 1986 to 1989 in the Rajiv Gandhi Ministry, where he envisioned the Shatabdi Express as a realization of his dreams.
Madhavrao Scindia's vision for the Shatabdi Express was inspired by his observations during visits to Japan and France, where he surveyed their high-speed train systems. Accompanied by his son Jyotiraditya, Madhavrao Scindia gleaned insights from these trips, seeking to imbibe the best practices into India's railway infrastructure. In the interview, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said that his father used to take him on some trips abroad at his own expenses to give him exposure.
During their visit to Japan, Madhavrao Scindia was impressed by the efficiency of the bullet
