On Monday, the Rajya Sabha passed a landmark bill aimed at streamlining and modernizing railway operations in India. Addressing the House, Minister of Railways, Communications, and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, emphasized the bill’s role in empowering field offices, enhancing efficiency, and reinforcing cooperative federalism.
The Minister expressed gratitude to the 25 Members of Parliament who participated in the discussion, acknowledging their valuable suggestions and debates. He categorically stated that the bill is designed to simplify existing laws and does not diminish the powers of state governments. Instead, it promotes decentralization by granting full authority to general managers in railway zones to approve projects up to ₹1,000 crore.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to state-wise railway development, Vaishnaw cited substantial budget allocations in states where the ruling party is not in power. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and West Bengal have all received significantly higher allocations compared to previous administrations.
Major Achievements and Reforms in Railways
Infrastructure Development
Over the past 11 years, 34,000 kilometers of new railway tracks have been laid, surpassing Germany’s total rail network.
Electrification of 45,000 kilometers has been completed, significantly reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
50,000 kilometers of old tracks have been replaced with new, high-quality rails.
Safety Enhancements
Investment in railway safety has surged from ₹8,000 crore under previous administrations to ₹1.14 lakh crore under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Rail fractures have reduced by 91%, with incidents decreasing from 2,548 in 2013-14 to just a fraction today.
The introduction of the Kavach safety system, with SIL 4 certification, ensures high-level security in railway operations.
Employment and Capacity Building
More than 5,02,000 jobs have been provided under the NDA government, compared to 4,11,000 during the UPA era.
Large-scale recruitment exams have been conducted transparently, with millions of candidates participating.
Enhanced training programs on the iGOT platform have seen maximum enrollment from railway employees.
Passenger Amenities and Modernisation
3,10,000 modern toilets have been installed in railway coaches, dramatically improving hygiene standards.
558 running rooms for loco pilots are now fully air-conditioned.
New locomotives are being manufactured with state-of-the-art technology and improved working conditions.
Vaishnaw also addressed concerns regarding crowd management at railway stations, particularly in light of recent incidents. He announced that full access control will be implemented at 60 major railway stations, ensuring only ticketed passengers can enter platforms. Special trains will be stationed near high-traffic stations to accommodate unexpected surges in passenger numbers.
Concluding his speech, the Minister reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India), urging railway employees and stakeholders to work three times harder to build on the strong foundation laid in the past decade. The passing of this bill marks a significant milestone in India’s railway modernization journey, ensuring safer, more efficient, and passenger-friendly services for the future.
Brief on Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2025
Indian Railways operates through its Zones, Divisions, and Production Units under the supervision of the Railway Board, which is responsible for making all policy decisions for railway operations.
The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2025 replaces colonial-era provisions. Now, provisions related to the Railway Board are incorporated into the Railways Act, 1989, reducing legal references from two Acts to one for easier governance.
Despite the amendments, the nature, scope, and functioning of the Railway Board, Zones, Divisions, and Production Units will remain the same.
The motion for introducing ‘The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024’ was moved in the Lok Sabha on August 9, 2024, the last day of the First Session of the 18th Lok Sabha. The bill was subsequently passed in the Lok Sabha on December 11, 2024.
On March 10, 2025, the Rajya Sabha passed the bill as ‘The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2025’, marking a crucial step in railway reforms and modernization.