Tariff tangle

The possibility of India revisiting tariff concessions on Scotch whisky in response to the UK’s steel curbs raises a question that extends beyond the arithmetic of tariffs and quotas. At stake is the principle of reciprocity, the foundation for trade ties.

The India–UK FTA was envisioned as a landmark economic compact, with bilateral trade projected to expand by nearly £25.5 billion by 2040. India’s decision to progressively reduce tariffs on Scotch whisky represented a significant gesture of market openness. Yet Britain’s move to tighten steel safeguard measures and curtail tariff-free access for imports risks unsettling the carefully negotiated balance that underpins the agreement.

India’s measured response should therefore be viewed not as retaliation but as an effort to preserve the integrity of the agreement itself.

Vijay Singh Adhikari

Nainital, Uttarakhand

Railways splintered

The article ‘Railways splintered into too many zones’, (June 2) is an insightful analysis that exposes how political vanity consistently derails structural logic.

Splitting a massive rail network into tiny regional territories is a cosmetic fix that only creates more red tape. Creating these extra headquarters does nothing to add new tracks, improve punctuality, or increase safety. Instead, it simply multiplies senior job posts to please local politicians. In today’s digital age, adding bureaucratic layers makes no sense.

True reform means stopping this expansion, merging overlapping zones, and giving real power and resources directly to the local working divisions.

Babu Crishna

Bengaluru

Needless exercise

I write in reference to Sudhanshu Mani’s article, ‘Railways splintered into too many zones’. The author rightly argues that the creation of additional railway zones is often driven by political considerations rather than operational efficiency.

The operationalisation of the South Coast Railway as the 18th zone raises important questions about whether increasing administrative layers actually improves railway performance. While new zones may satisfy regional aspirations, they do not automatically enhance safety, punctuality, freight movement, or network capacity. These objectives are primarily achieved at the divisional level, where day-to-day operations are managed.

At a time when Indian Railways is investing heavily in modernisation through initiatives such as Dedicated Freight Corridors, Kavach safety systems, station redevelopment, and digital monitoring technologies, strengthening divisional autonomy and accountability would be a more effective reform strategy than creating additional headquarters and bureaucratic structures.

With freight revenue growth facing challenges and capital requirements increasing, policymakers should prioritise operational efficiency, resource optimisation, and infrastructure expansion over administrative fragmentation. A unified and technologically enabled railway system remains essential for supporting India’s economic growth and national integration.

Vidyasagar Reddy Kethiri

Warangal

Published on June 2, 2026