Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & IT, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressed the Lok Sabha today. He highlighted various aspects of Indian Railways, including infrastructure development, punctuality, environmental sustainability, exports, employment and financial position. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making Indian Railways a modern, efficient, and environmentally sustainable transport system, enhancing both passenger experience and economic growth.

While speaking about punctuality of trains operation in the Lok Sabha today, the Union Railway Minister stated that Indian Railways has achieved an on-time performance of over 90% through the adoption of advanced signaling systems, real-time monitoring, AI-driven scheduling, and predictive maintenance. As highlighted by the Minister, out of 68 railway divisions, 49 have already surpassed 80% punctuality, while 12 divisions have impressively reached 95%. This enhanced efficiency has resulted in smoother train operations, benefiting both passengers and freight services. Currently, Indian Railways operates more than 13,000 passenger trains, including 4,111 Mail and Express trains, 3,313 Passenger trains, and 5,774 Suburban trains. Notably, the total number of trains in operation has now exceeded pre-COVID levels, reflecting the railway’s commitment to reliability and improved service delivery.

Divisions with more than 80 percent punctuality:

 Divisions with more than 90 percent punctuality:

To manage passenger demand during peak festive seasons, Indian Railway has operated a record number of special trains. Last year, during Holi, 604 special trains were operated to accommodate the surge in travelers. During the summer vacation period, around 13,000 special trains were introduced to facilitate smooth travel. Similarly, for Chhath and Diwali, 8,000 special trains were deployed. A remarkable effort was made during the Mahakumbh, with 17,330 special trains running to ensure seamless travel for devotees from across the country. This year, for Holi alone, 1,107 special trains have been arranged, reflecting the unwavering commitment of Indian Railways to passenger convenience and efficient travel management.

The list of Special trains for Holi festival for the last four years.

While talking about historic infrastructure expansion taking place across the railway network, the Minister emphasized the fulfillment of long-standing projects, such as connecting Jammu to Srinagar through engineering marvels like the Anji and Chenab bridges, with the latter standing 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower. With the completion of the CRS inspection and implementation of recommendations, train services between Jammu and Srinagar will soon commence. He also underscored the transformation of the Dedicated Freight Corridor, which has gone from being a mere proposal to an operational reality under the present government. Today, 350 freight trains run daily, reducing transit time from 24 to just 12 hours, significantly improving logistics. The Gati Shakti initiative has further bolstered freight operations, with 97 cargo terminals completed and 257 more under development. Tunnel construction in the railway network has seen a fourfold increase since 2014, with 460 km of new tunnels built, and innovations such as the Himalayan Tunneling Method and domestic production of Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) in Tamil Nadu showcasing India’s growing self-reliance in infrastructure technology.

The Minister also highlighted the modernization of railway stations, with 129 stations already completed and many more to be operational by 2025-26 as part of the world’s largest station redevelopment program. Bridges across major rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Kosi have been constructed, improving connectivity in key regions. The Northeast has witnessed unprecedented rail expansion, with new lines in Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. Indian Railways has also taken steps to address waterlogging in underpasses through extensive corrective measures. Shri Vaishnaw reiterated the government’s commitment to equitable development, emphasizing record budget allocations for all states, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.’ However, he pointed out challenges such as slow land acquisition in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, which continue to hinder progress. He further highlighted the significant expansion of the Kolkata Metro, where 38 km of metro lines have been added in just a decade, compared to 28 km in the previous 42 years. He also emphasized on the ambitious Bullet Train project as a transformative step toward modern, high-speed rail connectivity, ensuring world-class infrastructure for future generations.

In line with the government’s commitment to environmental sustainability, Indian Railways has taken several initiatives towards environmental sustainability with its ambitious goal of achieving Net Zero Carbon Emission (Scope 1) by 2025. Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw reiterated the government's commitment to reducing carbon emissions through electrification, afforestation, and modal shift strategies. Net Zero for Indian Railways means offsetting or eliminating carbon emissions across various sectors, including railway traction, non-traction operations, vehicle fleets, and infrastructure such as Railway colonies and hospitals. A major step in this direction has been the transition from diesel to electric traction, with 97% of railway operations already electrified, and the remaining 3% nearing completion. To further support this goal, Indian Railways has undertaken massive afforestation efforts, planting 9 crore trees between 2014-15 and 2023-24, which contribute to offsetting 5 lakh tonnes of carbon emissions annually. Additionally, the shift from road to rail freight has led to an emission reduction of 17 lakh tonnes between 2021-22 and 2023-24. With projected emissions for 2024-25 estimated at 20 lakh tonnes and available offsets reaching 22 lakh tonnes, Indian Railways is well-positioned to meet its Net Zero target ahead of schedule. Beyond direct emissions, the railway is also shifting to non-fossil fuel-based power sources, further reducing indirect emissions. As the largest contributor to India’s green transportation sector, Indian Railways not only provides a low-carbon alternative to road transport but is also driving the transition to sustainable energy sources, reinforcing its role as a leader in the country’s journey toward environmental sustainability.

Shri Vaishnaw also outlined the steps taken to boost exports, positioning Indian Railways as a global player in railway technology and manufacturing. Under the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, Indian Railways has successfully exported rolling stock, including Vande Bharat train components, to countries in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. India has also emerged as a key supplier of locomotives and coaches to international markets, strengthening its role in global railway infrastructure development.

The Minister highlighted the significant employment opportunities created through railway projects, benefiting millions across the country. Over three lakh direct jobs have been generated through station redevelopment, track expansion, and new railway projects, alongside large-scale recruitment drives for loco pilots, technicians, station masters, and track maintenance workers. Other initiatives like the Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana have played a crucial role in skilling thousands of young Indians in railway-related trades, enhancing their employability. A total of 1.26 crore candidates participated in the recruitment examination, which was conducted over 68 days in 133 shifts across 211 cities and 726 centers in 15 languages, with complete transparency and no incidents of paper leaks. More recently, 18.4 lakh candidates appeared over five days in 15 shifts across 156 cities and 346 centers, also in 15 languages,in the ALP exam and it was conducted smoothly without any issues. Regarding Exam centers being located outside candidates’ hometowns, the Minister clarified that this is a nationwide policy implemented uniformly to ensure smooth execution and maintain the integrity of the exams. In response to concerns about reservations, he reaffirmed that all reservation policies and regulations have been strictly adhered to in the recruitment of these five lakh jobs without any deviation. For the first time in 60 years, an annual recruitment calendar has been introduced in the railways to ensure a structured and timely hiring process, which is being effectively implemented for both 2024 and 2025, he added.

While speaking about the financial position of Indian Railways, the Minister stated that despite the challenges faced during COVID, the Railways has now reached a healthy financial state. Currently, almost all expenses are being met through its own revenue. The major components of railway expenditure include staff costs of ₹1,16,000 crore, pensions for around 15 lakh pensioners amounting to ₹66,000 crore, energy costs of ₹32,000 crore, and financing costs of ₹25,000 crore. The total expenditure stands at ₹2,75,000 crore, while the total income is around ₹2,78,000 crore. Since COVID, the Railways has been covering its expenses from its revenue every year, and efforts will continue to further strengthen this financial position.

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Dharmendra Tewari/Shatrunjay Kumar