Exports

Coaches to Mozambique, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka

Locomotives

to Mozambique, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Bangladesh

Railways'

Global Footprint Expands: Exports Bogie Underframes to UK, Saudi Arabia,

France, and Australia

Propulsion

Parts to France, Mexico, Germany, Spain, Romania, and Italy.

Railways'

Financial Position is Strong, Providing More Subsidy to Passengers: Railway

Minister

The

cost of train travel per kilometer is Rs. 1.38, but passengers are charged only

73 paise

This

year, 1,400 locomotives were produced, exceeding the combined production of the

U.S. and Europe

By

March 31, Indian Railways will be among the world's top three freight carriers

with 1.6 billion tons of cargo

All

ICF coaches will be converted to LHB during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s

third term

Ten

crucial steps have been taken to prevent incidents like the New Delhi railway

station accident

Our

commitment is to the poorest of the poor: Railway Minister

Lucknow/New

Delhi, 17 March (HS): Union Minister for Railways, Information &

Broadcasting, Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, highlighted the

achievements and future plans of Indian Railways during a discussion in the

Rajya Sabha on Monday. He stated that Indian Railways is providing safe and

high-quality services to passengers at affordable fares while securing a

leading position globally. Comparing Rail fares, he mentioned that fares in

Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are higher than in India, while in Western

countries, rail fares are 10-20 times higher than in India.

On

the subsidy provided to passengers, the Railway Minister said that while the

cost of train travel per kilometer is Rs. 1.38, passengers are charged only 73

paise, meaning a subsidy of 47% is provided. In the financial year 2022-23,

passengers received a subsidy of Rs. 57,000 crore, which increased to

approximately Rs. 60,000 crore in 2023-24 (provisional figures). He emphasised

that the goal is to provide safe and improved services at minimal fares.

Highlighting

the benefits of Railway electrification, the Minister noted that despite an

increase in the number of passengers and cargo, energy expenses have remained

stable. Indian Railways aims to achieve Scope 1 net zero emissions by 2025 and

Scope 2 net zero emissions by 2030. This non-fossil energy-based goal will

completely offset the Railway's carbon emissions.

The

Railway Minister also announced that locomotives manufactured at the Madhepura

factory in Bihar will soon be exported. Indian Railways is exporting passenger

coaches to Mozambique, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, while locomotives are being

exported 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 sent to France,

Mexico, Germany, Spain, Romania and Italy.

This

year, India produced 1,400 locomotives, surpassing the combined production of

the U.S. and Europe. Additionally, 200,000 new wagons have been added to the

fleet. The Railway Minister stated that in FY 2024-25, Indian Railways will

transport 1.6 billion tons of cargo, making it one of the world's top three

freight carriers, alongside China and the U.S. This underscores the increasing

capacity of Indian Railways and its crucial role in the logistics sector.

He

further stated that 41,000 LHB coaches have been manufactured with a strong

focus on railway safety. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term, all

ICF coaches will be replaced with LHB coaches. The implementation of long

Rails, electronic interlocking, fog safety devices and the ‘Kavach’ safety system

is progressing rapidly.

Expressing

gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vaishnaw mentioned that earlier,

Indian Railways received Rs. 25,000 crore in financial support, which has now

increased to Rs. 2.5 lakh crore. This funding has led to significant

infrastructure improvements, including the construction of 50 Namo Bharat

trains designed for short-distance travel, offering both AC and non-AC options.

Regarding

the recent incident at New Delhi Railway Station, the Railway Minister informed

the House that a high-level committee is investigating the unfortunate

accident. All CCTV footage and relevant data have been secured and

approximately 300 individuals have been interviewed to verify facts. Ten

critical measures have been taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

The

Railway Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to serving the poorest

sections of society. He emphasised that the number of general coaches is being

increased to 2.5 times that of AC coaches. Under the current production plan,

17,000 non-AC coaches are scheduled for manufacturing. He also stated that

Indian Railways' financial position is strong, with continuous efforts to improve

it. The Railway sector has successfully overcome challenges posed by the

COVID-19 pandemic, with passenger numbers increasing and growth observed in

both passenger and freight transportation.

He

reminded that Indian Railways has annual revenue of approximately Rs. 2.78 lakh

crore and expenditures of Rs. 2.75 lakh crore. The Railway’s major expenses are

being met through its own income, which is a result of its strong performance. 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 future.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi