With an expectation that 8,400 million passengers would use the railways by 2011-12, the railways have now put into motion an action plan that would see investments of Rs 3.5 lakh crore flowing in for the development of a dedicated freight corridor and a high speed rail link that would compete with low-cost airlines. Up in the skies, another tale was scripting itself. In early 1948, a joint sector company Air India International was established by the Indian government, with a fleet of three Lockheed constellation aircraft that flew four times a week between Mumbai and London and twice between Mumbai and Nairobi.

However, with the financial health of aviation companies running into troubled waters, the government merged and nationalised them in the 1950s. Not much changed until the 1990s, when an open-sky policy that allowed airtaxi operators to run from any airport and decide their own schedules, came into effect. The revolution started soon after, with the emergence of the budget airline concept initiated by players like Air Deccan, opening up the skies to a large number of Indians for the first time.

At the same time, activity on the high seas notched up to cruise speed, with the Centre launching an ambitious Maritime Development Programme that will see investments of Rs 1 lakh crore in the next five years. A rosy future for a sector that will wheel the nation ahead. Only if we keep on track.