A train journey across India - 2005
Courtesy: stock.xchng As I boarded the Rajdhani Express one fine morning at Chennai (formerly Madras) for Hazrat Nizamuddin (Delhi), swarm of flies and the unbearable stench from the toilets overpowered me, on the compartment wall a face of smiling ' incredible !ndia ' welcomed passengers aboard. The journey to Delhi was pleasant, nice company, unending conversations and not to forget the flies and mosquitoes, who sung in accompaniment of the PA system that periodically rattled some haunting melodies. We complained to the coach attendant and the (TT) ticket-checking official on the lack of cleanliness...pat came the reply... "sir what can we do, the maintenance of the trains are now in the hands of private contractors, ...they are just minting money without doing work!" Then it was the turn of the coach attendant to make rounds to distribute the bedding, a blanket, bed sheets, pillow and a hand towel. The spick and span white sheets were fine save for so...