An op-ed, published in a Chinese media outlet, said that it was incomprehensible how a railway system that was deemed the most advanced at one point has declined to its current state. The op-ed said that India has a dual nature in its industrialization and development process.
The op-ed, published for China state mouthpiece Global Times, has said that the Indian railway network was once a source of pride for the British Empire and was considered a significant asset in 1947, at the time of India's independence. For more than 70 years, India's railways have experienced such a tragic accident. It's difficult to comprehend how a railway system that was once regarded as the world's most advanced could have declined to its current state.
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The report acknowledges India's progress in the investment in railway infrastructure and the electrification of railways, adding that these are certainly noteworthy and worth bragging about. The Chinese op-ed said India's pace of development should not be disregarded but there is a dual nature to it.
If India has demonstrated its ability to produce advanced missiles and rockets, on the other hand its foundation remains relatively weak, posing risks of setbacks and regression, the op-ed said.
China has faced challenges and obstacles in the development of its railway systems, it said, adding that India's situation is unique.
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However, the statement adds that fortunately, the dichotomy of Made in India does not extend to the highly sophisticated sectors of rockets and missiles, or the consequences would have been unimaginable.
The problems that were revealed by this train accident highlighted the concerns that must be addressed in India's next industrialization phase. It is essential to acknowledge that these problems cannot be quickly and happily solved solely by relying on India's proud democratic political system, it said in a statement.
The Chinese op-ed said that India needs not to compete or surpass other nations but focus on improving the quality of its population through solid and practical measures.
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The report said India could learn from China's modernization that sustainable development is difficult to achieve without modernization of its people and the improvement of software features. The op-ed added that simply meeting modernization standards in terms of infrastructure won t cut it for India, especially considering its population.
The Chinese op-ed came two days after a passenger train, the Coromandel Express, hit a stationary freight train, causing the death of 275 people and injured more than 1,000 people. When the freight train hit the passengers, the coaches hit another passenger train passing in the opposite direction. Non-stop efforts to rescue the survivors and clear and repair the tracks followed. As of Monday evening, around 100 bodies had not been identified.