Page 9 - Indian Railways

Rail network to reach Naxal-hit Bastar, location survey in concluding stage

A railway line in Naxal-affected Bastar in Chhattisgarh is on the verge of becoming a reality after the final location survey was conducted for the proposed 160-km railway track connecting the remote region in Chhattisgarh with Telangana. This ambitious project will bring the Naxal-affected districts of Sukma, Dantewada and Bijapur into the railway network for the first time, officials said on Friday. The final location survey for the proposed 160 km-long railway line from Kothagudem (Telangana) to Kirandul (Chhattisgarh) has entered its concluding stage. The Indian Railways is conducting the survey using cutting-edge LiDAR technology, and the entire process is being closely monitored by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, given its immense significance for both national security and regional development, officials said. With strong support from the Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai-led state government, the survey work has gained momentum once again. The project aims to open new path

Train controllers say railway reforms leave crucial issues unaddressed

Days after the Ministry of Railways introduced crucial reforms to enhance the working conditions of the train control department and bring it at par with the world class standard, a section of controllers have expressed disappointment for "leaving several important issues unaddressed". On June 25, the ministry announced a slew of reforms for train control department, prominent among them are filling up of 60 per cent post through direct recruitment and 40 per cent from other railway departments through departmental promotional examinations. Besides, the ministry also introduced three-year fixed tenure, better selection criteria, regular performance analysis and several other welfare measures for controllers. However, a section among them felt dissatisfied. "The ministry hasn't given any thought on issues like enhancement of stress allowance and night duty allowance which were very much among important agendas," Servjeet Singh, general secretary of Indian Railway Employees Federatio

Indian Railways likely to hike train fares across classes from July 1

All non-AC coaches on Mail and Express trains are likely to see a hike of 1 paisa per kilometre for passengers

DFCC eyes 40% growth in cargo with same number of trains: MD Praveen Kumar

The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) between Punjab and Bihar was completed in October 2023 and the Western DFC between Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai will be completed by the end of this year

Railways to build 100 MEMUs and 50 Namo Bharat trains for short trips

Railways to produce 100 MEMU and 50 Namo Bharat trains, launch cargo terminal in Manesar, and pilot advance charting to improve short-haul travel and logistics efficiency

Fire in Daund-Pune shuttle train after passenger throws cigarette; held

A minor fire broke out in the lavatory of the moving Daund-Pune shuttle train on Monday morning after a passenger allegedly threw a lighted cigarette in a dustbin there, causing panic among passengers, police said. The blaze was quickly doused and no one was injured in the incident which occurred near Yavat in Pune district at around 8 am, an official from Daund railway police station said. A 55-year-old person, who prima-facie seemed to be mentally unstable, was detained in connection with the incident and handed over to police, a railway spokesperson said. The train was held up at Yavat station for about 20 minutes due to the incident, as per railway officials. The shuttle train service operates daily between Daund town and Pune city, covering a distance of nearly 75 km and passing through seven stations in between. As per preliminary information, a passenger from Madhya Pradesh allegedly threw a 'bidi' (hand-rolled thin cigarette) into a dustbin of the Daund-Pune DEMU (Diesel .

HBL Engineering bags ₹132.95 cr railway contract for Kavach safety system

The South Central Railway contract includes deploying Kavach across 446 km, covering 48 stations and 10 locomotives, and marks a major step in boosting railway safety

Explained: Tatkal ticket booking new rules: What it means for you | Indian railways | IRCTC

From July 2025, Indian Railways is rolling out major changes to the way Tatkal tickets are booked. The goal is to curb misuse, prevent fraud, and ensure that real passengers—not touts—get a fair shot.

EMU coach derails near Shivaji Bridge in Delhi, no injuries reported

A passenger train from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Ghaziabad derailed near Delhi's Shivaji Bridge. No injuries were reported. Restoration work was completed and services resumed after brief disruption

Mumbai tragedy: Railways may expand local train services to 4,500 a day

Mulling phaseout of old coaches as retrofitting technically tough, says top official

In Bhopal, a ₹18 cr railway bridge with 90-degree turn sparks safety row

Locals fear a sharp turn on a nearly completed Bhopal bridge may cause accidents; officials say a paucity of land and a nearby metro station left them with no alternative

Cabinet clears Rs 6,405-cr rail projects to ease freight congestion

Projects to improve rail links in Jharkhand, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and increase freight capacity by 49 mtpa across coal, steel, cement and petroleum corridors

Aadhaar verification to be mandatory for IRCTC Tatkal bookings from July 1

From July 1, Aadhaar will be compulsory for all online Tatkal bookings on IRCTC, with OTP authentication required from July 15 to ensure transparency and limit misuse

Cabinet clears ₹6,405 cr railway doubling projects in three states

New multitracking lines covering 318 km in Jharkhand, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh to improve mobility, cut logistics cost and support sustainable rail operations

Tatkal tickets to be available only for Aadhaar-verified users from July 1

The Railways Ministry said allowing only Aadhaar-authenticated users for Tatkal train tickets will help ensure the Tatkal scheme's benefits reach genuine, common users

Railways begin trial to confirm waitlisted tickets 24 hrs before departure

A trial was launched in which the confirmed status of waiting list passengers was announced 24 hours before a train's departure, instead of the current practice of notifying passengers just 4 hours before, the Railway Ministry said on Wednesday. Ministry officials assured that the pilot project would become part of the policy only after receiving a positive response from the passengers. "We have started this pilot project in the Bikaner Division, where charts are being prepared 24 hours before the train departure. The current practice is doing so before 4 hours," Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board, said. He noted that this trial was being done keeping in mind the concerns of passengers who remain uncertain about their journey due to a waiting ticket. "Now, if they know 24 hours before that their tickets are confirmed, they can plan their travel better," he added. However, once a ticket is confirmed, passengers will lose a substantial chunk of

Srinagar Vande Bharat fully booked for next 10 days: Railway Authority

Station Superintendent at Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station, Jugal Kishor Sharma, said the response to the train has far exceeded expectations

Railway passenger traffic rises 6% in FY25, crosses 7 billion mark

Passenger traffic rose 6% in FY25, driven by growth in both reserved and unreserved categories while revenue rose 50% since FY20 on the back of premium train services

Train to J&K boon to tourists, as well as locals, says Farooq Abdullah

National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said the new train service to Kashmir launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will benefit the locals as well as tourists. "I am very happy that I am traveling by this train to Katra today. It has been the biggest benefit for us," Abdullah, who was accompanied by several party colleagues, told reporters before boarding the train. The former J-K chief minister said the train that connects Kashmir with the rest of India will be a reliable transport link for the people of the valley. "The road (between Srinagar and Jammu) gets closed sometimes and the airlines start fleecing the people by jacking up the prices. With this train, people will be saved from that," he said. Abdullah said the railway link will also prove to be beneficial to the horticulture sector in Kashmir as the produce will reach the markets faster. "It will also benefit tourists visiting Kashmir," he added.

Mumbai locals to have automatic doors, says railways as four die after fall

Railway Board confirms automatic doors for new and existing Mumbai suburban trains after four commuters die and nine are injured in a packed-train incident near Mumbra