Indian Railways

Railway Board move to split Khurda Road division triggers Odisha row

Move to shift Palasa-Ichchapuram section to Andhra's SCoR revives concerns over revenue loss and control of key railway assets in Odisha

North Western Railway to run special trains until July 15 amid summer rush

Authorities said these steps have been taken to ensure smoother travel and reduce inconvenience for passengers during the peak summer travel period

Railways freight grows 3.3% in FY26 as coal cargo records rare contraction

Indian Railways missed its FY26 freight target by about 30 mt as coal cargo declined, even as overall freight volumes and earnings grew

Avantel bags ₹459.9 crore RTIS contract from Zetwerk for Indian Railways

Technology solutions provider Avantel on Wednesday said it has secured a contract worth Rs 459.9 crore to supply and maintain Real-Time Train Information System (RTIS) devices for the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS). The contract was awarded by Bengaluru-based Zetwerk, an infrastructure and technology partner to the Indian Railways. It covers the supply and annual maintenance (AMC) of RTIS devices. "Avantel Limited, a provider of technology solutions for the defence and communication sectors, has received a rate contract valued at Rs 459.9 crore (excluding taxes) from Zetwerk, Bengaluru, for the supply and Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) of Real-Time Train Information System (RTIS) devices for the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), Indian Railways," the company said in a statement. RTIS is an Indian Railways project developed in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It utilises satellite technology to automatically track train

Over 30 million fake accounts removed from IRCTC portal: Vaishnaw

More than three crore fake accounts from the IRCTC portal have been removed as part of efforts to deal with touts selling train tickets and around 78 per cent of the seats in trains are in the non-AC categories, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday. Asserting that the government's focus is to ensure comfortable and affordable services to the people, the minister also said that more than 75,000 special trains have been operated so far this financial year. Vaishnaw was responding to supplementaries during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha related to overcrowding in long distance trains. Steps have been taken to tackle the issue of touts selling train tickets and over three crore fake accounts have been removed from the IRCTC portal, he said and stressed that genuine passengers are getting train tickets. According to him, around 70 per cent of the coaches in trains are general and sleeper coaches while 78 per cent seats are in the non-AC categories. About running mor

Railways tightens construction norms, raises eligibility threshold

The Railways Ministry has raised eligibility thresholds, tightened subcontracting norms, and introduced stricter checks to improve project execution and curb delays

Indigenous bullet train: Experts back move, urge tests before scale-up

While welcoming the move to indigenously develop bullet trains capable of a maximum speed of 250 kmph, experts have also cautioned the Railway Ministry that scaling up production before testing the prototype could be risky. Their cautionary note follows reports that the Ministry will soon award a tender for more trains. In a push to the 'Made-In-India' initiatives, the Ministry in 2024 awarded a contract to Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) to develop one pair of 250 kmph bullet trains by 2027. The Ministry recently informed a parliamentary panel that the first pair of Bharat-made Bullet Trains, named B28, will operate on the 508-km-long Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor. Its first phase is expected to open in August 2027 on a 97-km stretch from Surat to Vapi. The corridor is being constructed with financial assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to operate Japanese-made 320 km/h bullet trains using Japanese signalling technology. The Ministry .

AI, high-resolution cameras tracked stone pelters at Vande Bharat: Vaishnaw

High-resolution cameras installed in a Vande Bharat train, as well as AI technology, helped authorities catch the culprits who threw stones at the train in the Muzaffarnagar area of Uttar Pradesh, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The minister said that Vande Bharat trains are fitted with many safety features, including an anti-climbing feature that prevents one coach from climbing onto another. While mentioning the safety features in response to queries during Question Hour, Vaishnaw referred to the high-resolution cameras in the trains and the incident in Muzaffarnagar. "(Vande Bharat) trains are fitted with high-resolution cameras. In a recent incident in the Muzaffarnagar area, we could catch the culprits who were throwing stones on a Vande Bharat train just with a very small picture of a person captured on the camera, and by using some AI technologies, which helped us reach exactly the house where the person was residing," the minister said.

Govt must improve its ability to plan and execute hiring programmes

Despite a push to fill vacancies through Rozgar Melas and recruitment drives, India's Union government workforce has barely grown in a decade, highlighting limits in hiring capacity

Indian Railways freight rises 4% in February to 137.72 million tonnes

Railways ferried 137.72 mt of goods in February, up 4% year-on-year, with growth across key commodities and NTKM rising, though experts say double-digit expansion is needed to meet long-term goals

Indian Railways sanctions key capacity, connectivity projects worth ₹871 cr

Indian Railways has sanctioned the Development of Coach Maintenance Facilities at Shri Ganganagar Station in Rajasthan under Phase I at a cost of ₹174.2644 crore

Govt looks to unlock ₹80,000 crore via rail PSU stake sales by FY30

The Centre plans to raise about ₹80,000 crore by diluting stakes in seven listed railway PSUs over FY27-FY30 as part of Railways' asset monetisation drive

Apar Industries zooms 53% from January low; stock nears record high

Share price of Apar Industries regained ₹10,000 mark, as the stock hit a 52-week high of ₹10,416.95, rallying 9% on the BSE in Wednesday's intra-day trade.

RRB Group D Answer Key 2026 out: Objection window open until February 23

RRB has released the provisional answer key for the RRB Group D recruitment exam today, Feb 17, 2026. Candidates can now access their response sheets and challenge via the official portal

Meerut Metro to share Namo Bharat tracks, run at 120 kmph- fastest in India

In a first, the Meerut Metro will run on the same tracks and infra as the semi-high-speed Namo Bharat trains, creating an integrated transport model that combines regional rapid transit with metros

RITES pushes in-service diesel locomotives on export fast-track

With Indian Railways nearly fully electrified, RITES is pushing exports of in-service diesel locomotives-mainly to African nations

Govt planning new Rail Tech policy to cut dependence on foreign suppliers

Under the plan, the Railway board is expected to offer partial funding, technical help, and access to testing centres

Gujarat's 6th Vande Bharat Ahmedabad-Udaipur train to be inaugurated Feb 16

Indian Railways is committed to regional development and providing better connectivity through upgraded stations, new rail lines and state-of-the-art facilities

Railways to hire tech-enabled teams to clean long-distance trains: Vaishnaw

The Railway Ministry on Saturday launched a reform aimed at enhancing cleanliness in long-distance trains by deploying tech-enabled professional teams. Introducing the reform, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told mediapersons that all coaches, including general class, will be cleaned as and when required. This will be done by establishing clear responsibility and accountability for deployed service providers and engaging professional, self-disciplined and proactive teams that exceed customer expectations. Under the existing Clean Train Station scheme, trains are cleaned at designated stations along their routes. Under the new reform, the cleaning will be carried out throughout the journey at hourly intervals or as required by trained staff deployed onboard, Vaishnaw added. He stated that monitoring, feedback and performance management will be conducted on a real-time basis with the help of technology. The services will include cleaning of all coaches, toilets and basins; garbage

Cabinet approves three multi-tracking railway projects worth ₹18,509 cr

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved three projects of the Railway Ministry entailing a cost of approximately Rs 18,509 crore. These projects include the construction of third and fourth lines between Kasara-Manmad, Delhi-Ambala, and Ballari-Hosapete. "The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways," the government said in a statement on Saturday. "These multi-tracking proposals are poised to streamline operations and alleviate congestion. The projects are in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a New India, which will make people in the region 'Atmanirbhar' through comprehensive development that enhances employment and self-employment opportunities," it added. According to the statement, the projects are planned under the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, with a focus on enhancing multi-modal ...