Page 12 - Indian Railways

PFC approves Rs 3.5 K cr loan for Chhattisgarh's East Rail Corridor project

State-owned PFC on Thursday said it has sanctioned Rs 3,517 crore worth of loan to Chhattisgarh East Railway Limited (CERL) for implementing the East Rail Corridor Project in Chhattisgarh. CERL is a joint venture of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), IRCON, and Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation Limited (CSIDCL), PFC said in a statement. The loan documents for a term loan amounting to Rs 3,516.68 crore were executed on March 28, 2025, PFC said. The under-construction railway project is being developed primarily for transporting coal from multiple coal mines in the vicinity and connecting them to thermal power plants. Under Ministry of Power, PFC is a nodal agency for development of Integrated Power Development Scheme, Ultra Mega Power Projects and Bid Process Coordinator for Independent Transmission Projects.

Railway accidents drop to 81 from 400 in FY25, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

Railway safety has improved with the number of rail accidents coming down significantly to 81 in the last financial year from the 400 earlier, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw asserted on Wednesday. During the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, he also said that continuous efforts are being made, including by way of technological and procedural changes and training methods, to further bring down the rail accidents in the country. Vaishnaw said there has been a very significant improvement in railway safety. "During Lalu ji time, there were around 700 accidents per year, during Mamata Ji's time, there were around 400 accidents, during Kharge ji's time, there were around 385 accidents...In the just closed financial year (2024-25), the number has reduced from 400 to 81, there has been a very significant improvement," he said. Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mamata Banerjee and Mallikarjun Kharge had served as railways ministers. To a query about instances of delay in filing of FIRs for crimes relat

Rail passengers pick other options as space crunch hobbles ease of travel

The Railways has an ambitious plan to use land parcels to create holding areas for passengers but many of those spaces have been encroached upon, putting pressure on platforms and leading to stampedes

Fix liability for loss in electrification contracts: Parl panel to Railways

A parliamentary committee has directed the Railway Ministry to fix responsibility of officers for a financial loss of Rs 9 crore in electrification work contracts in the South East Central Railway Zone in 2017-18. It has also favoured bringing in a provision for the recovery of financial loss to the exchequer along with penal interest consequent to the fixing of responsibility. The matter pertained to the execution of Overhead Equipment (OHE) work in the SCR zone, for which two contracts were awarded worth Rs 35.36 crore in 2017-18. However, the audit report found that the prerequisite civil works were not ready before awarding the contract because of a lack of coordination between the civil and electrical departments of the SECR, leading to inefficiencies and financial losses. It noticed that the contractors supplied materials worth Rs 9.0 crore during the contract period (2017-18) but could not execute works due to the non-availability of a clear worksite. "This led to the short

Centre plans to evacuate more thermal coal through coastal shipping

Plan to evacuate more thermal coal via coastal shipping as Railways faces network congestion woes

1 dead, 7 injured as Bengaluru-Kamakhya Express derails in Odisha's Cuttack

Seven people were injured as an express train derailed in Odisha's Cuttack district on Sunday, officials said. Eleven coaches of the SMVT Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express derailed at Nirgundi near Manguli at 11.54 am, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the East Coast Railway Ashok Kumar Mishra said. Odisha Fire Service Director-General Sudhansu Sarangi said seven injured people have been rescued and taken to a nearby hospital. "The maximum number of injured persons should not be more than 10," he said. Personnel of the NDRF and Odisha Fire Service were assisting the railway in the rescue operation, he added. The train was heading to Kamakhya station in Assam's Guwahati from Bengaluru. Mishra said a relief train has been sent to the spot. "Arrangements are being made to help the affected passengers reach their destinations. Our priority is to restore the line at the earliest and accordingly, other trains will be diverted," he said. Three trains were diverted because of the ..

Redevelopment of 60 Northeast railway stations begins under 'Amrit Bharat'

In total, 92 stations within the Northeast Frontier Railway's jurisdiction are earmarked for redevelopment under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

Vande Bharat train to Kashmir: PM Modi to launch service on April 19

The long-awaited train will initially operate on the Katra-Baramulla route, before being extended to Jammu

Railways caught 21.6 mn ticketless passengers, earned Rs 562 cr: Vaishnaw

The Indian Railways has caught about 2.16 crore passengers travelling without ticket in 2023-24 and an amount of approximately Rs 562.40 crore as excess charges was realized from these travellers, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said this in a written reply while responding to questions raised by some members regarding the number of passengers caught without ticket during 2023-24 and other related issues. "During the year 2023-24 a total of approximately 2.16 crore passengers were detected travelling without ticket across the Indian Railways and an amount of approximately Rs 562.40 crore as excess charges (excluding fare) was realized from these passengers," Vaishnaw said When asked to provide statewise/station-wise data of ticketless travellers, Vaishnaw said that it is not maintained that way. "Special ticket checking campaigns are undertaken by zonal railways from time to time keeping in view the local conditions or as per directions ..

Railways overlooked food quality, using gas stoves in pantry: Parl panel

The committee also chastised railways for failing to progressively switch over from gas burners to electric power equipment in pantry cars

Rail mishaps dropped 90% since Lalu's time, Vaishnaw tells Rajya Sabha

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Rajya Sabha that rail accidents fell 90 per cent since 2005-06, from 698 to 73, due to investment in tech like Kavach, stronger rails, and safety focus

Lok Sabha to discuss demands for grants under Railway Ministry, Jal Shakti

Congress leaders also submitted a motion for adjournment to discuss the "affordable quality of medicines for a healthier future" and "Impact of new RBI rule on Jewel loans"

Railways on course to achieve Scope 1 net zero in 2025: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Scope 1 emissions are greenhouse gases emitted directly from an organisation's own sources or those under its direct control

Railways' financial health sound, paying expenses from own income: Vaishnaw

Indian Railways' financials are in good condition with continuous improvement efforts underway, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday. During a debate on the working of the Railways Ministry, Vaishnaw noted that the national transporter has successfully overcome pandemic-related challenges, with passengers returning to train travel and both passenger and cargo traffic showing growth. During 2023-24, Indian Railways reported a revenue of approximately Rs 2,78,000 crore against expenses of Rs 2,75,000 crore. Major expenditure components include staff costs (Rs 1,16,000 crore), pension payments (Rs 66,000 crore), energy expenses (Rs 32,000 crore), and financing costs (Rs 25,000 crore). "Railways is fulfilling its expenses from its own income because of good performance. ...Overall, the financial condition is good and we are trying to improve it on constant basis," Vaishnaw stated. The minister highlighted that Railways subsidises passenger fares while .

Trains increase coal freight capacity; power units stock up before summer

Sector experts point that demand would be met on the back of thermal power yet again

Railways clears tracks for India's first 40-kilometre hyperloop project

IIT Madras incubated TuTr Hyperloop to launch the world's first commercial hyperloop technology-based project next month

13,000 extra general tickets sold on Feb 15: Vaishnaw on Delhi stampede

Railways sold 13,000 extra general tickets at NDLS on Feb 15, the day of the stampede that killed 18; Rs 2.01 crore in compensation disbursed to 33 affected families, says railway minister

Railways' new safety steps: Smart planning or knee-jerk reaction?

Train-related information must be communicated clearly at the railway stations. At large stations, such as New Delhi Railway Station, more digital screens displaying arrivals and departures are needed

Anticipated cost of connecting Kargil with railways Rs 1.31 trn: Vaishnaw

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said a Detailed Project Report of the new Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line has been prepared

Improve freight services, diversify beyond coal, cement: Rlys parl panel

The panel suggests a service model similar to the passenger system