The Rajya Sabha Monday passed the much-anticipated Railways (Amendment) Bill 2025, aiming to modernize and streamline railway operations across India.
The bill was introduced by Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications, and Electronics & IT, who highlighted the bill’s crucial role in enhancing efficiency, empowering field offices, and promoting cooperative federalism.
In his address to the House, Minister Vaishnaw expressed gratitude to the 25 Members of Parliament who actively participated in the discussion. He emphasized that the bill simplifies existing laws without diminishing state governments’ powers, instead fostering decentralization by granting general managers in railway zones the authority to approve projects up to ₹1,000 crore.
Minister Vaishnaw underscored the government’s commitment to state-wise railway development, citing significant budget allocations to states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and West Bengal, irrespective of the ruling party.
Major Achievements and Reforms:
- Infrastructure Development:
- 34,000 kilometers of new railway tracks laid over the past 11 years, exceeding Germany’s total rail network.
- Electrification of 45,000 kilometers completed, reducing fossil fuel dependence.
- Replacement of 50,000 kilometers of old tracks with high-quality rails.
- Safety Enhancements:
- Investment in railway safety increased from ₹8,000 crore to ₹1.14 lakh crore under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.
- A 91% reduction in rail fractures, from 2,548 incidents in 2013-14 to minimal levels.
- Implementation of the Kavach safety system, achieving SIL 4 certification.
- Employment and Capacity Building:
- Provision of over 5,02,000 jobs under the NDA government, compared to 4,11,000 during the UPA era.
- Transparent large-scale recruitment exams with millions of candidates participating.
- Enhanced training programs on the iGOT platform, with maximum enrollment from railway employees.
- Passenger Amenities and Modernization:
- Installation of 3,10,000 modern toilets in railway coaches, dramatically improving hygiene standards.
- Full air-conditioning of 558 running rooms for loco pilots.
- Manufacturing of new locomotives with state-of-the-art technology and improved working conditions.
Minister Vaishnaw also addressed concerns about crowd management at railway stations, announcing the implementation of full access control at 60 major stations, allowing only ticketed passengers on platforms. Special trains will be stationed near high-traffic areas to manage unexpected passenger surges.
Concluding his speech, Minister Vaishnaw 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 passage of this bill marks a significant milestone in India’s railway modernization journey, ensuring safer, more efficient, and passenger-friendly services for the future.
