BBC team hails infra development

The visiting team of journalists in the BBC’s India Election Train is impressed at the infrastructural development of the country in terms of roads, buildings, mass media and other sectors.

“We are impressed by the way India has changed in terms of infrastructure and fundamentals in the countryside”, Mark Perrow, assignment editor, BBC World News said.

Interacting with the media, Perrow said, BBC’s India Election Train, which started its three week journey from New Delhi, is gathering first hand knowledge about the issues and the personalities behind the ongoing elections in the country.

The stories are reported to the world in 12 languages, across 14 BBC services. During the journey, the team held discussion with political leaders about the country’s response to the current economic slowdown, security issues, Maoist influence in Orissa, e-governance and marginalisation of people in Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) and India’s youth and their take on the modern world in Kolkata (West Bengal).

He said, similar initiatives were taken up during the American elections last year which touched all the political leaders there. Soutik Biswas, India Online editor said, felt a prolonged slowdown may create job loss.