New Delhi: Indian Railways operates one of the largest rail networks in the world with millions of people availing of trains every day to travel in our country. In fact, it can be said that trains are arguably the most-sought after public transports in India as it connects different parts of the country, making travel easier for common people. Since it is vast network, the Indian Railways also has numerous stations across the country. Many of those stations are quirky and unique in their own ways, like the Rashidpur Khori railway station which is bound to pique your interest for the effort that went behind keeping it operational. How? This article strives to inform you more about this.
Rashidpur Khori railway station: When a village came together to save it
Rashidpura Khori, a small village in Rajasthan, has a rail station which the villagers themselves maintain and operate, and what is more strange that neither railway employees nor any officials are involved in the venture. Yes, this is a station which is by the people and for the people, quite literally. In an age of entrepreneurship and startups, this venture of the people in Rashidpura Khori is certainly a praiseworthy one.
The history of Rashidpura Khori railway station
In 1923, the British built the Rashidpura Khori railway station as part of the Jaipur-Churu railway line. To the residents of the Rashidpura Khori village, it was an important mode of transport which enabled trade and facilitated communication. The station was witness to historical events like the Indian freedom struggle and the Partition of 1947.
Then, trains came to a screeching halt
In 2005, the railway authorities decided that it was time to shut down the station. Low revenue and high maintenance costs acted as factors behind the decision, something which shocked the villagers. The station served as their lifeline and was an important part of their livelihood, and closing down the station meant that a vital mode of transportation would become defunct. They requested the railway authorities to reverse the decision, but those in the upper echelons of administration were unmoved. Neither the local politicians nor the media gave them any support.
The effort of the villagers to save the station
The villagers decided to do something on their own to save the station. To this end, they met with the railway officials who agreed to their demand to keep the station operation, but there was a conditions: Every month, the villagers had to generate a minimum revenue of Rs 3 lakh from ticket sales, and take care of the maintenance and security of the station. The condition was accepted by the villagers who signed a MoU with the railway authorities in 2009.
The villagers launched a massive door-to-door campaign, informing everyone about the train timings and fares, and urged them to use the station. They put up posters, distributed pamphlets, announced on loudspeakers, and also contacted the nearby villages, offering discounts and incentives to use the station. It was the villagers who became station masters and ticket sellers among other roles, and made the station facilities convenient for passengers. Their efforts bore fruit, as the revenue generated from the station exceeded expectations and became a commercial hub, improving the lives of the villagers.
The station was recognized from various quarters like the media, the government, and the civil society. Today, it stands as a tourist attraction, and a model of empowerment and community participation. The Rashidpura Khori railway station is a testament to the fact that people can do anything when they are united and determined, even when it is an uphill task like operating a rail station in India.
The remote village of Rashidpur Khori in Rajasthan, India, remarkably operates its own railway station. Facing closure in 2005 due to low revenue, the villagers rallied, striking a deal with Indian Railways to maintain and operate the station. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
