The Impressive TimesPrayagraj: Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, highlighted the achievements and future plans of Indian Railways during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. He emphasized that Indian Railways is providing safe, high-quality services at affordable fares while strengthening its global presence and financial position.
Indian Railways has expanded its international footprint by exporting passenger coaches to Mozambique, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, and locomotives to Mozambique, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. Additionally, bogie underframes are being exported to the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, France, and Australia, while propulsion parts are being supplied to France, Mexico, Germany, Spain, Romania, and Italy. The Railway Minister also announced that locomotives manufactured at the Madhepura factory in Bihar will soon be exported.
In a significant achievement, Indian Railways produced 1,400 locomotives this year, surpassing the combined production of the United States and Europe. Furthermore, 200,000 new wagons have been added to the fleet. By the end of the financial year on March 31, 2025, Indian Railways is projected to transport 1.6 billion tons of cargo, positioning itself among the world’s top three freight carriers alongside China and the United States.
Highlighting Indian Railways’ strong financial position, the Minister stated that while the cost of train travel per kilometer is ₹1.38, passengers are charged only 73 paise, providing a subsidy of 47%. In the financial year 2022-23, the total passenger subsidy amounted to ₹57,000 crore, which increased to approximately ₹60,000 crore in 2023-24 (provisional figures).
Mr. Vaishnaw compared rail fares with neighboring and Western countries, stating that fares in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are higher than in India, while rail fares in Western countries are 10-20 times higher. He reiterated the government’s commitment to providing affordable and improved services to passengers, particularly the poorest sections of society.
The Minister also noted that Indian Railways’ annual revenue stands at approximately ₹2.78 lakh crore, with expenditures totaling ₹2.75 lakh crore. Major expenses are being met through internal revenue, reflecting the railway’s strong financial performance.
Mr. Vaishnaw announced that during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term, all ICF coaches will be converted to safer LHB coaches. To enhance passenger safety, Indian Railways is implementing long rails, electronic interlocking, fog safety devices, and the ‘Kavach’ safety system.
Following the recent incident at New Delhi Railway Station, the Minister informed the House that a high-level committee is investigating the matter. All CCTV footage and relevant data have been secured, and approximately 300 individuals have been interviewed. Ten critical measures have been taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
He also revealed that Indian Railways is increasing the number of general coaches to 2.5 times that of AC coaches, with 17,000 non-AC coaches scheduled for manufacturing under the current production plan.
Indian Railways is making significant strides towards environmental sustainability. The Minister announced that despite the increase in passenger and cargo volumes, energy expenses have remained stable due to railway electrification. The organization aims to achieve Scope 1 net zero emissions by 2025 and Scope 2 net zero emissions by 2030 through non-fossil energy sources.
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Vaishnaw highlighted the increase in financial support for Indian Railways, rising from ₹25,000 crore to ₹2.5 lakh crore. This funding has enabled substantial infrastructure development, including the construction of 50 Namo Bharat trains for short-distance travel with both AC and non-AC options.
Concluding the discussion, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw assured that Indian Railways will continue to evolve into a more modern, safe, and environmentally friendly transportation system in the coming years.
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