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The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has flagged delays in achieving the intended outcomes of enhancing operational safety in the Railways, noting that 20,304 safety-related railway works remained unfinished during the financial year 2024-25. The government's financial watchdog, which tabled its report in Parliament on Wednesday, provided an analytical review of the finances and accounts of the Indian Railways based on the audited accounts for the year ended March 2025. A press note highlighting the major findings of the audit said, "Over 20,304 safety-related works remain unfinished, indicating delays in achieving intended safety outcomes." Flagging another concerning area related to the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK), a dedicated fund created for safety-related works, it said that the Indian Railways was supposed to contribute a large amount of its own resources to the RRSK but contributed much less than planned. "Railways contributed only a small fraction of the ..
Jindal Stainless said it has supplied 40 per cent of the total stainless steel requirement for India's first hydrogen-powered train, flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. With this, India has joined a select group of countries with operational hydrogen-powered trains and marks an important step towards the adoption of clean and sustainable mobility in the railway sector. In a statement on Friday, the company said it has supplied about 40 per cent of the total stainless steel requirement for India's first hydrogen-powered train. "The premium austenitic stainless steel grade X5CrNi1810, exclusively supplied by Jindal Stainless' Jajpur and Hisar plants, has been used in the fabrication of the hydrogen train," the country's largest stainless steel player said. Jindal Stainless Managing Director Abhyuday Jindal said the future of mobility will be defined by advanced materials that make these technologies more efficient, durable and sustainable. The company said stainle
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off India's first hydrogen-powered train connecting Jind to Sonipat in Haryana from the railway station here. With this, India has joined a select group of countries that have operational hydrogen-powered trains and marks an important step towards the adoption of clean and sustainable mobility in the railway sector. The 89-km distance between Jind and Sonipat will be covered in two hours, with the train halting at 12 intermediate stations. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini were among those present at the Jind railway station for the flagging off ceremony. The prime minister waved as the train, which also had many school children onboard, chugged off from the Jind railway station. Designed, engineered and integrated in India, the train has been developed using indigenous technology, reflecting the country's growing capabilities in advanced railway engineering. Th
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday jointly flagged off a new express train service between Puri and Koraput. The train was flagged off from Puri in the presence of state Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, MPs, MLAs and senior railway officials. Speaking on the occasion, Majhi described the launch of the train service as a historic moment for the state. "Today is a historic day for Puri and all of Odisha as a new train service has started from Srikhetra Puri to Sabar Srikhetra Koraput," he said, thanking Vaishnaw for introducing the service. The chief minister said Puri railway station was being redeveloped at a cost of Rs 184 crore to provide a better experience to pilgrims visiting the temple town from across the country. Majhi, who hails from Keonjhar district, also requested Vaishnaw to introduce a similar train service from north Odisha. Responding immediately, the railway minister announced that a new train connectin
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday flagged off the Nanded-Mumbai and Tanakpur-Nanded Express trains, besides inaugurating the extension of the Tanakpur-Pilibhit train service up to Shahjahanpur through video conferencing from here. Vaishnaw, who is in Odisha to review the railways' preparations for the upcoming Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri and to flag off two Odisha-origin trains later in the day, launched the new services from Rail Sadan here. Addressing the event, the minister said the newly launched train services would improve rail connectivity and benefit passengers, particularly the Sikh community in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. "There was a consistent demand from our Sikh brothers and sisters living in the Terai region. A train service connecting Nanded via Washim and Hingoli to Mumbai has also been started today, which will improve connectivity for several districts in Vidarbha and Marathwada with Mumbai. Some train services connecting
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday said the Centre has allocated a record budget of more than Rs 10,000 crore in the current financial year for the development of rail infrastructure in Bihar. Vaishnaw, who arrived here for a day-long visit to the state, announced the launch of a new express train service from Chapra to Delhi. "Locomotives from the state are being exported. Today, the 51st locomotive engine will be exported from the Marhowrah plant in Bihar to an African country," the railway minister said. Vaishnaw said railway projects worth around Rs 1.15 lakh crore are already under implementation in Bihar. "The PM has allocated a record railway budget of more than Rs 10,000 crore for the development of rail infrastructure in Bihar in the current financial year," he said. He said five additional platforms are being constructed at Patna railway station to boost passenger capacity. The railway minister also said the Fatuha station near the state capital is also being ...
State-owned Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) has set a target of crossing a milestone of Rs 1 lakh crore loan sanction during the current financial year. To fund its business growth, the public sector undertaking (PSU) of the Ministry of Railways is looking to raise Rs 70,000 crore, including from overseas in FY27. "We are aiming for a loan sanction of Rs 1 lakh crore and disbursement of about Rs 40,000 crore during the ongoing financial year, as the pipeline of high-quality infrastructure projects looks strong," IRFC Chairman and Managing Director Manoj Kumar Dubey told PTI. A steady pipeline and emerging opportunities in sectors such as metro and ports are expected to further accelerate growth in the coming financial year, following its whole-of-government approach, he said. During FY26, lRFC sanctioned projects worth Rs 72,949 crore and disbursed approximately Rs 35,067 crore, exceeding its annual guidance. The company, which last year got Navratna status, witnessed it