The railway reservation counter at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is set to reopen after five years, following sustained efforts by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
The initiative, which was part of the party’s previous election manifesto, addresses long-standing difficulties faced by students, especially those travelling from distant areas, in booking railway tickets. Last month, a high-level ABVP delegation met the railway minister and submitted a memorandum highlighting the challenges posed by online and agent-based ticketing systems.
The Railway Ministry, in coordination with the university administration, approved the reopening of the on-campus facility, a step seen as easing students’ daily travel and logistical concerns.
ABVP presidential candidate Vikas Patel described the reopening of the counter as a demonstration of the party’s “politics of action”, emphasising that the focus of student politics should be practical solutions rather than ideological debates. Vice-President candidate Tanya Kumari added that the party aims to prioritise student rights, safety, mental health, and campus facilities, signalling a shift in campus political discourse toward student welfare.
ABVP’s grassroots work, including initiatives on bus services, health facilities, scholarship transparency, and administrative accountability, has reportedly won widespread support from the student community. Campus observers suggest that the ABVP is on course to secure a full majority in the upcoming JNUSU elections.
The reopening of the railway counter is being celebrated as a symbol of constructive student politics, demonstrating that committed leadership and sustained advocacy can produce tangible results for the campus community.