Vinod Bhat
During FY25 so far, the progress in the expansion of the railway network has remained at levels comparable to the previous year, while the addition of rolling stock has increased considerably. Between April and October 2024, 17 new pairs of Vande Bharat trains were introduced to the network, and 228 coaches were produced.
Recent Developments In Railways
Recent Initiatives In The Rail System
- Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT): 91 GCTs have been commissioned, and 234 locations have been approved as of October 31, 2024.
- Net Zero Carbon Emission: Indian Railways targets 30 GW of renewable energy by 2029-30, with 375 MW of solar and 103 MW of wind commissioned as of October.
- Major Economic Corridors: 434 projects valued at ₹11.17 lakh crore have been identified under three railway corridors, which are mapped on the PM Gati Shakti portal.
- Public Private Partnership (PPP): 17 projects have been completed (₹16,434 crore) and 8 are ongoing (₹16,614 crore) under the PPP model.
Major Projects
- Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project: Sanctioned in December 2015, this 508 km project, supported by Japan, has a revised cost of ₹1.08 lakh crore. As of October 2024, it has achieved 47.17 percent physical progress with an expenditure of ₹67,486 crore.
- Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs): As of November 2024, 2,741 km (96.4 percent) of the planned 2,843 km DFC network has been commissioned. DFCs have transformed logistics in India by facilitating increased freight volumes without interference from passenger trains.
Steps For Enhancing Passenger Amenities In Railways
Indian Railways is undertaking several initiatives to enhance passenger experience and station amenities. Key projects primarily focus on station redevelopment, affordable healthcare, improving catering services, and supporting local artisans.
- Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: Under this initiative, aimed at enhancing railway station amenities, 1,337 stations have been identified for redevelopment, and work has started in 1,197 of them.
- Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs): In pursuit of enhancing the wellness and welfare of passengers passing through railway stations, 50 PMBJKs were started in railway station premises. Additionally, on November 13, 2024, 18 new PMBJKs were inaugurated, providing affordable medications and healthcare services at railway stations.
- Food and Catering Services: A new policy for managing mobile catering was introduced on November 14, 2023. As of November 23, 2024, this has resulted in the establishment of 557 Base Kitchens servicing 468 pairs of trains.
- One Station One Product Scheme: This scheme is operational at 1,900 stations, featuring 2,163 outlets that benefit 79,380 local artisans by providing sales opportunities for their products.
- Passenger Amenities: Train Indication Boards have been provided at 1,351 stations, Coach Guidance Systems at 866 stations, and Wi-Fi availability at 6,112 stations, enhancing passenger experience.
Key Initiatives To Improve Signalling Systems In Railways
Indian Railways is modernizing its signalling and safety systems to enhance operational efficiency and safety across its vast network. Here are the key updates:
- Elimination of Mechanical Signalling: Indian Railways is replacing mechanical signalling with Electrical/Electronic Interlocking systems. In FY25, 25 out of 62 pending stations have been upgraded to electrical/electronic interlocking systems, with 9 zonal railways now free from mechanical signalling.
- Kavach: This indigenously developed Automated Train Protection system has seen ₹1,547 crore invested (up to November 2024). Specification version 4.0 was approved on July 16, 2024.
- Electronic Interlocking: EI systems have been installed at 227 stations in FY25, increasing the coverage to a total of 3,576 stations. The first Direct Drive Interlocking system was commissioned in November 2024 at Tajpur station.
- Automatic Block Signalling (ABS): ABS is being installed to enhance capacity on high-density routes. 720 route kilometres have been completed this fiscal year, increasing the coverage to a total of 4,906 kilometres.
- Signal Design Automation Tool for Electronic Interlocking: This tool automates route control chart generation for station yards. Version 5.0 was released on September 19, 2024.
Progress In Logistics And Physical Connectivity Based Services
Indian Railways: Keeping The Development On Track
- Indian Railways (IR) is the fourth largest network in the world. Passenger traffic originating in IR achieved a growth of 8 percent over the previous year. Revenue-earning freight in FY24 achieved a growth of 5.2 percent.
- In view of the rising passenger traffic, the government is taking various steps to upgrade passenger amenities. Out of a total of 7,325 railway stations across the nation, train indication boards have been provided at 1,351 stations, coach guidance systems at 866 stations, digital clocks at 5,605 stations, and public address systems at 6,071 stations as of November 2024. Wi-Fi facilities have been provided at 6,112 stations to date. A new policy for the management of mobile catering services was introduced in 2023. To date, 557 base kitchens have been commissioned, catering to 468 pairs of trains.
- As a result of the push toward digitalization in IR, e-ticketing has reached 86 percent in the reserved sector as of October 2024. Ticketing through digital means in the unreserved sector has increased from 28 percent at the beginning of the current financial year to around 33 percent in October 2024. IR has also transformed the refund process, enabling refunds in eligible cases within 24 hours in around 98 percent of cases. Dynamic QR code-based payment has been enabled across all counters. The passenger reservation system is being redeveloped using cloud-native technologies.
- To encourage tourism, Bharat Gaurav trains have been introduced as theme-based tourist circuit trains that showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places. Under this scheme, the service provider is required to provide comprehensive tour services comprising meals, accommodation, transport, sightseeing, tour guide, etc. To date, a total of 325 trips of Bharat Gaurav trains carrying 191,033 tourists have been operated, covering various tourist destinations.
