Train running 5 hours late? No problem, take a selfie with Modi while you wait

There’s exciting news for India’s rail passengers. Instead of addressing concerns like passenger facilities like toilets and water, concessions, lateness, cleanliness and debt, the Modi government is spending Rs 1.62 crore to set up “selfie booths” across 50 railway stations.

That’s right – each “3D selfie booth” will have Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image, according to RTI replies accessed by The Hindu. Some are permanent (Rs 6.25 lakh each) and others temporary (Rs 1.25 lakh each).

The excitement has spilled over to social media.

Then again, just a few years ago, we learned that taxpayer money was funding chartered plane trips for Modi’s ministers, with multiple tickets booked for a single trip – because why not? Rail officials at the time bent rules to provide charter planes to their own railways minister. Read all about it here.