governance, political economy, institutional development and economic regulation
Udan — the new regional air connectivity scheme — is not likely to get the aam aadmi (common man) to fly, but it will correct the historical wrong done to the air transport business in India. The hallmark of faux socialism was the targeting of some services and goods as “luxury” and by implication, anti-common […]
Read More Fly India, flyConnectography: Mapping the Global Network Revolution, Parag Khanna, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2016 In the 1980s, Disney World, Florida offered a gripping, virtual journey as viewed by a blood corpuscle as it rushes through the arteries, veins, into and out of organs in the human body. Parag Khanna’s fourth and latest book –Connectography: Mapping the Global […]
Read More Book ReviewIf Suresh Prabhu has his way this is how Indians would travel routinely on vacation. Today these luxury trains are expensive immersive “period” experiences for foreign tourists. Photo credit: http://www.2luxury2.com The 28 million passengers who use the Indian Railways daily fear March as much as ancient Romans feared the Ides of March. This is when […]
Read More Prabhu tightens “free lunches” in Indian RailwaysIndian Railways: Lifeline of the Nation” — runs the bold title of a 2015 government white paper. But the reality is that post-1991 the Indian Railways (IR), whilst retaining its high ritual status, ceded ground to competition from road transport. Too many consultant chefs It has only itself to blame. The railways steadfastly stonewalled all […]
Read More Rebranding Indian Rail
Opinion India 