Gandhinagar: In one of the rare cases, Dinesh Trivedi, former Union Railway Minister and veteran political leader, has been appointed as the new High Commissioner of India in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Holding an MBA from an American university, Trivedi hails from the Kutch district of Gujarat, with his native roots in Bidada village of Mandvi taluka. While his political career saw him elected from West Bengal, his ties to Gujarat have remained strong. It is also notable that he had previously contested an election from Kutch before finding success in West Bengal under the Trinamool Congress (TMC). He initially served as Union Minister of State for Health before taking over the Railway Ministry as a member of Mamta Banerjee-led TMC.

Showcasing his deep connection with his birthplace, Trivedi visited Bidada in Kutch immediately after his appointment as Railway Minister, where he was honoured by his community. His visits to the region also showed an instance of humility, as during one such trip as a Railway Minister, he was seen standing in a queue at Bhuj railway station like a common citizen.

Contributions to Gujarat as Railway Minister

During his tenure as Railway Minister, Trivedi also prioritised the development of railway infrastructure in his native state. In his first railway budget after assuming office, he introduced a long-awaited AC train connecting Bhuj to Mumbai, significantly reducing travel time for the Kutchi diaspora.

His 2012–13 budget included a railway coach factory for Kutch and several new trains. He also proposed providing broad gauge linkages to major and minor ports in Gujarat, such as Hazira, Dahej, Bedi, and Porbandar.

He initiated surveys for key routes, including Nashik–Surat, Godhra–Dahod–Indore, and Bhiladi–Patan, the latter serving as an important alternate route to Delhi.

His budget also included a survey for a high-speed rail corridor connecting Pune, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad.

Trivedi had also sanctioned gauge conversion projects for the Ahmedabad–Botad and Dhasa–Jetalsar lines. Furthermore, he had initiated surveys for conversions on several other routes, including Kalol–Kadi, Gandhidham–Anjar–Mundra, and Khambhat–Khambhat Port.

Surveys for doubling tracks on the Rajkot–Okha and Surendranagar–Vani Road routes were also approved during Trivedi’s tenure.

Beyond policy measures, Trivedi sought to modernize the railways by consulting academic experts in the state. He made low-profile visits to IIM Ahmedabad and NID Ahmedabad to help build a strategy for a safer and financially stronger rail system. He also focused on connecting rural areas by sending projects like the Bhavnagar–Tarapur line to the Planning Commission for appraisal. Even after his tenure in the Union Cabinet, Trivedi has continued to visit local institutions in his home district, such as the Bidada Sarvodaya Trust.

The Railway Budget and Resignation

Trivedi’s less-than-a-year tenure as Railway Minister is most remembered for his decision to prioritise national interest over political populism. Finding Indian Railways in what he described as the “ICCU” (Intensive Care Critical Unit) due to its dire financial condition, he proposed a modest passenger fare hike in his 2012 budget, the first in nearly eight years, to improve safety and infrastructure.

However, the move faced strong opposition from his then political boss, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, who demanded the rollback of the hike. Standing by his decision, Trivedi famously stated, “Country first, family, party and self then after,” asserting that he did what was necessary for the nation. This principled stand eventually led to his resignation from the Union Cabinet in March 2012.

Joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Dinesh Trivedi represented the Barrackpore constituency in West Bengal as a Lok Sabha MP for multiple terms before being nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2020. However, this came years after his exit from the Union Cabinet and a period during which he felt sidelined within the TMC, which ultimately led him to announce his resignation from the Rajya Sabha in early 2021. He cited a “stifled” atmosphere and political violence in West Bengal as reasons for his departure.

Shortly thereafter, he formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party’s national headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of party president J.P. Nadda. Upon joining, he praised the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the world views India as a “bright spot of energy” under his guidance. DeshGujarat