Is railway ministry reeling under Vaastu dosh?

New Delhi: Rail Bhavan is revamping its Gate No. 4, from where ministers enter the building on the grounds of a “facelift.” However, speculation is rife that the railways ministry intends to change the entry point of the gate that is used by ministers to please the Vaastu gods.

While the officials of railways ministry remained tight-lipped about the so-called “astrological implication” of the change and termed the revamping of the gate as a general “facelift” measure, it is learnt that certain entry points are expected to be sealed and the entrance will be modified substantially to correct “Vaastu dosh”.

The railway ministry came in for severe criticism on Sunday after train delay by nearly seven hours in Karnataka led to hundreds of students missing the NEET examination. The Hampi Express took a 125 km-longer route to reach its destination, leading to several students missing the examination, and prom-pting Karnataka chief minister and even BJP leaders to hit out at the railway minister and Central government for the incident and dema-nded a re-examination.

Gate No. 4 has been operational for years in its present form. It is speculated that the “facelift” may have been ordered in mind certain Vaastu corrections needed for political leaders since it is the VIP gate and is used by the railway minister, Piyush Goyal, and his deputies, Manoj Sinha and Rajen Gohain. It is also used by Members of Parliament, visiting foreign dignitaries, diplomats and Railway Board members.

In an order issued on Tuesday, the railway ministry said: “Facelift of Gate No. 4 (including replacement of lift) is being taken up. In order to undertake the work, a block of about two weeks would be required and during this period Gate No. 4 would have to be kept closed. Since this Gate is used by Hon’ble Ministers and Board Members, alternate entry for them has been arranged through Gate No. 3 facing Raisina Road… The above arrangement would come into effect from 8th May 2019 onwards. All concerned are requested to use Gate No. 3 instead of Gate No. 4 till the time Gate No. 4 is ready for use.”

It may be recalled that Smriti Irani too had changed the entry gate to her office in Shastri Bhawan when she took over as the Union human resource development minister. Despite the changes, her tenure as HRD minister had remained mired in controversy.

The Bharatiya Janata Party too had made several changes in the party’s previous headquarters at Ashoka Road, including modification of entry points.