Rajya Sabha MP writes to Railways Minister over avoiding exuberant expenditure on PM’s selfie points
The Hindu
Member of Parliament from Rajya Sabha Dr. V. Sivadasan requested urgent intervention from Ministry of Railways so that wastage of money for partisan political propaganda is avoided.
Expressing dismay over the fact that the Central Railway spent nearly ₹1.62 crore on installing selfie photo booths with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cut out image, Member of Parliament from Rajya Sabha Dr. V. Sivadasan wrote a letter to Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Dr. Sivadasan requested urgent intervention from Ministry of Railways so that wastage of money for partisan political propaganda is avoided.
The Hindu reported on December 27 that Central Bureau of Communication under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had approved L1 contract rates for installing temporary selfie booths at ₹1.25 lakh per installation and ₹6.25 lakh for every permanent installation, to be installed at railway stations.
“At the time when the railway is unable to provide even basic travelling facilities to all those who commute, this extravaganza seems to be a misplaced priority,” Mr. Sivadasan wrote in the letter.
The letter further states, “Reducing our public sector institutions to the status of instruments and platforms of political propaganda for the promotion of partisan political interests, is an extremely unfortunate development.”
“Such promotion should not be at the cost of public exchequer and the money should be wisely spent on essential facilities at our railway stations being used by millions of common people,” the letter says.
Telangana government updates building rules, increasing TDR usage, allowing more floors, and easing setback regulations for developers.
The escalating Israel-Iran conflict over the South Pars gas field threatens global energy security and impacts India's energy imports.
Delhi's weather forecast: clear skies, maximum temperature around 30°C, and moderate air quality with an AQI of 154.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju meets Tamil Nadu Bishops and pastors to discuss minority welfare and counter anti-BJP narratives.
Japan may consider minesweeping in the Strait of Hormuz post-ceasefire, says Foreign Minister Motegi, amid ongoing regional tensions.
Delhi University job fair guidelines excluding School of Open Learning students spark protests over equity and access to opportunities.
Rwanda's Fanny Utagushimaninde, at 15, becomes the youngest player to score a T20 international century.
Assembly polls 2026: Follow updates from The Hindu on the upcoming elections in five States, on March 22, 2026
Currently, only the services in the 32 series stop at the section of the road adjacent to the Broadway terminus, temporarily closed on account of reconstruction work. Small traders association tells R. Ragu that ensuring the services now accommodated at the temporary terminus at Island Grounds stop at NSC Bose road would benefit visitors to the markets in Parrys
The Hindu photo feature on Aragam which is now known as book village. Photos and text by Imran Nissar
The silent reading movement in the Mylapore-Mandaveli-RA Puram area showed up first at Nageswara Rao Park around two years ago, with modest ambitions, when Balaji launched it along with other reading enthusiasts from the region. This initiative has now moved parks, and seems to set to get entrenched in one. Due to renovation work at Nageswara Park, the reading session became irregular. With the Nageswara Rao park work gaining more surface area, it had to be shifted elsewhere. And it seems set to continue with a newly discovered green patch in RK Nagar in the Sundays to follow.
Explore Tamil Nadu's upcoming four-cornered election contest, featuring key players DMK, AIADMK, TVK, and Naam Tamizhar Katchi.
Trump plans to deploy ICE officers for airport security unless Democrats fund the Department of Homeland Security amid ongoing shutdown.