Why in news?

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated in Rajya Sabha that train accidents and derailments have decreased by 90% compared to 2005-06.

He highlighted that in 2005-06, there were 234 accidents and 698 incidents including derailments—an average of two per day. In contrast, in 2024-25, there have been only 30 accidents and 73 incidents including derailments, bringing the total down to nearly one-tenth of the 2005-06 figures.

What’s in today’s article?

• Key Highlights of the speech delivered by the Union Railway Minister

Key Highlights of the speech delivered by the Union Railway Minister

• Union Railway Minister addressed the Rajya Sabha on the working of the Ministry of Railways, highlighting key achievements and future plans.
• Railway Accidents and Safety Measures
  • Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that train accidents and derailments have decreased by 90% since 2005-06.
  • Safety improvements include stronger rails, electronic interlocking, fog safety devices, and the rollout of Kavach.
  • Weld failures have reduced by 92%, and rail fractures have decreased from 2,500 in 2013-14 to 250 in 2024, a 91% reduction.
• Employment and Recruitment in Railways
  • Over the last 10 years, 5 lakh people have been employed by the Railways compared to 4 lakh during the period 2004-2014.
  • Currently, the recruitment process for 1 lakh more employees is ongoing.
  • The Minister highlighted the scale of recruitment, citing 18.4 lakh candidates appearing for the loco pilot exam and 2.32 crore candidates appearing for various railway posts from Level 1 to Level 6.
• Prioritization of Non-AC Coaches and Managing Crowds
  • Responding to concerns about premium trains being prioritized, the minister stated that the government is committed to serving the poor and middle class, increasing the number of non-AC coaches.
• New Delhi Railway Station Stampede Inquiry
  • Vaishnaw called the New Delhi station stampede a tragic incident and assured that all data, including CCTV footage, is secure.
  • A high-level committee is investigating the incident.
• Railways' Financial Growth
  • The Indian Railways has recovered from the Covid-19 crisis, generating a revenue of ₹2.78 lakh crore against expenses of ₹2.75 lakh crore, meeting all major expenditures independently.
• Global Recognition and Infrastructure Expansion
  • India is now among the top three countries in the world in cargo-carrying capacity, reaching 1.6 billion tonnes in 2024, alongside China and US.
  • Track construction has exceeded 34,000 km, surpassing the total rail network of Germany.
• Modernization of Rail Coaches and Locomotive Production
  • The government plans to replace all ICF (Integral Coach Factory) coaches with LHB (Linke-Hofmann-Busch) coaches.
  • India is producing 1,040 locomotives this year, exceeding the combined output of the US and Europe.
• India’s Railway Exports
  • India has begun exporting metro coaches to Australia, bogies to the UK, Saudi Arabia, France, and Australia, and propulsion parts to France, Mexico, Romania, Spain, Germany, and Italy.
  • Additionally, India exports passenger coaches to Mozambique, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, and locomotives to Mozambique, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
• Affordable and Subsidized Travel
  • Railway fares in India are lower than in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka and 10-20 times lower than in Western countries.
  • The government provides a 47% subsidy on passenger fares.
    • Travel costs ₹1.38 per km, but passengers pay only 73 paise.
  • Subsidy increased from ₹57,000 crore (2022-23) to ₹60,000 crore (2023-24).
• Electrification and Sustainability Goals
  • Indian Railways aims for Scope 1 Net Zero by 2025 and Scope 2 Net Zero by 2030.
  • Despite rising passenger and freight numbers, energy costs have remained stable.
• Production Milestones
  • 1,400 locomotives produced, surpassing the combined output of America and Europe.
  • 2 lakh new wagons added to the fleet.
• Infrastructure Boost and Namo Bharat Trains
  • Budget allocation increased from ₹25,000 crore to ₹2.5 lakh crore under PM Modi's leadership.
  • 50 Namo Bharat trains under production, offering both AC and non-AC options for short-distance travel.
• Commitment to a Modern and Green Railway
  • Indian Railways aims to become more modern, safe, and environmentally friendly, with continuous improvement in services and infrastructure.