Railway Minister

Vaishnaw reviews rail preparations as Cyclone Ditwah approaches Tamil Nadu

In view of Cyclone Ditwah bearing down on Tamil Nadu, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed preparedness measures on Saturday to ensure minimum disruption to rail services and passenger safety. The coastal areas expected to be hit by the impending cyclone fall mainly under the Southern Railway zone. "A dedicated network of helplines and passenger-assistance desks must be established to support travellers facing uncertainties due to cancellations or rerouting," a press statement from the railway ministry said. It added that Vaishnaw has reaffirmed the commitment of the Indian Railways to public safety. The minister has instructed the officials concerned to ensure that war rooms are activated at the divisional, zonal and Railway Board levels to monitor the situation and remain alert for any extreme scenario. "He has also asked railway officials to coordinate with civil-administration authorities and proactively communicate with passengers until normalcy is restored," the statem

Vaishnaw visits railways war room, encourages staff morale for festive duty

Vaishnaw conducted a surprise inspection of Anand Vihar Railway Station today to ensure passenger safety and convenience during the festive season

Vaishnaw warns railway suppliers of blacklisting amid high-speed rail push

The rail minister warned component makers to upgrade quality as India targets 7,000 km of high-speed rail corridors, Vande Bharat 4.0, and Kavach 5.0 systems

Vande Bharat 4.0 to be built with focus on exports, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Vande Bharat 4.0 will combine advanced tech and comfort, aiming at export markets and positioning India as a global rail technology supplier

Vaishnaw inaugurates Sonik logistics hub, launches 2 new freight services

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, virtually inaugurated the Sonik Integrated Logistics Hub and flagged off two new Door-to-Door Freight and Parcel Services on Tuesday.The Union Minister said that door-to-door services are essential for the country, as they will enhance efficiency and significantly reduce logistics costs. He highlighted that industries can now send a specific number of containers without the need to fill an entire rake to their destination.Vaishnaw added that the logistical gap between factories and the loading/unloading points of trains will now be bridged by Indian Railways through comprehensive door-to-door services. He further stated that goods sheds or logistics terminals will be equipped with facilities for stuffing and de-stuffing containers, enabling customers to benefit from the new service model fully.The Union Minister mentioned that Sonik has become the first ...

GST rate cuts to ease tax burden, boost economy: Ashwini Vaishnaw

The GST rate cuts will not only benefit the common people but also boost India's economy, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw asserted on Saturday and hit out at the Congress, alleging "heavy burden" of tax during its term at the Centre. The GST Council's decision to bring all products, except those under the sin and luxury goods category, under 5 per cent and 18 per cent slabs, while reducing it to zero on a host of essential items, will come into effect from September 22, the first day of Navratri. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, Vaishnaw said, "The coming 22nd, the first day of Navratri, will bring a new happiness for all of us, for all middle-class families and for 140 crore citizens of this country." The GST reforms will also serve as a catalyst in the economic development of the country, he said "This reform has brought a big relief to the lives of 140 crore people of the country. Before 2014 (during Congress rule), there was a huge burden on common

India's first hydrogen train clears load tests, set for rollout soon

Earlier this year, the Railway Minister stated that the hydrogen fuel-run train engine developed by Indian Railways has the maximum horsepower in the world

74,000 rail coaches to be equipped with CCTV cameras: Indian Railways

Indian Railways will install CCTV cameras in all 74,000 coaches and 15,000 locomotives, with a focus on improving passenger safety and reducing incidents of crime

Railway Recruitment Boards to offer 50,000 appointments, says ministry

The Railway Recruitment Boards have issued over 9,000 appointment letters in the first quarter and will offer appointments to more than 50,000 candidates in the financial year 2025-26, the ministry on Wednesday said. "Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) have since November 2024 conducted Computer Based Tests (CBTs) for more than 1.86 crore candidates for seven different notifications comprising 55,197 vacancies," the Railway Ministry said in a press note. "This will enable RRBs to offer appointments to more than 50,000 candidates in financial year 2025-26. More than 9,000 appointments have already been issued by RRBs in first quarter of this financial year," it added. The ministry said that conducting CBTs for RRB exams is a huge exercise requiring a lot of planning and coordination. The RRBs have recently taken the initiative to allot exam centres closer to candidates' places of residence, with special preference given to female and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) ...

Staying home during Covid to be treated as duty for trainees: Rail ministry

The Railway Ministry has clarified that stay-at-home period during COVID-19 lockdown would be counted as duty for trainee railway servants for increments in salaries. "As the Railways are aware, the training period spent by a railway servant, whether on remuneration of stipend or otherwise, is to be treated as duty, provided it is followed by confirmation, for the purposes of increments," read a circular dated July 7, 2025, addressed to all Zonal Railways and production units. The ministry's circular came after one of the Zonal Railways unit sought to know whether the period spent at home during nationwide lockdown due to pandemic be considered as duty also for the purpose of increments. The ministry said that it has already issued instructions in 2020 during the release of held up payments of stipends to the trainee railway servants for the period they had stayed at home during the lockdown due to Covid subject to a condition that this period must not exceed six months. "In view o

Om Birla praises Modi govt for transforming rail connectivity for people

Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended the inaugural ceremony of the special train between Kota and Delhi from Kota Railway Station

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

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 ..

Govt identifies 15 out of 1,337 stations for redevelopment on PPP model

Ministry of Railways explored various models to redevelop stations and presently 15 stations out of 1,337 have been identified for redevelopment on public-private partnership model, the government has informed the Lok Sabha. Responding to questions, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply on Wednesday said that Rani Kamalapati station in Madhya Pradesh has been developed and commissioned under PPP model. DMK member C N Annadurai asked the number of railway stations identified for redevelopment under the PPP model and the total investment proposed and received so far under the said model for station redevelopment. Annadurai also wanted to know the list of private entities involved in these projects and the criteria for their selection and the financial model being followed, including revenue-sharing mechanisms between the government and private players among various other issues related to the PPP model. Project formulation is a complex and iterative process requiring .

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

Collective efforts helped us run over 16k trains for Mahakumbh: Vaishnaw

The 45-day-long religious gathering, Mahakumbh 2025, concluded on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri, yet devotees continue to arrive at Prayagraj's Triveni Sangam for a holy dip

Ashwini Vaishnaw outlines steps to prevent stampedes, improve crowd control

Creating holding area at 60 stations experiencing high footfalls, a separate crowd management manual and raising awareness among passengers to not sit at stairs are among the measures being taken to prevent untoward incidents, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Monday. These initiatives are being taken in the wake of a stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station Saturday evening which killed 18 passengers, according to official figures, and left several injured. Interacting with mediapersons at the Rail Bhawan here, Vashnaw said the Railways has identified 60 stations which normally receive a high footfall and decided to make permanent or temporary holding areas outside the platforms to regulate the flow of passengers to the stations. "Sixty stations such as New Delhi, Patna, Surat, Bengaluru, Coimbatore have been identified for creating a holding area to manage the flow of passengers inside the station. They will be allowed to enter the platform according to departure of their

On moral ground: Railway ministers who resigned after train tragedies

Here's a list of railway ministers who resigned, or offered to resign, following major train tragedies, taking moral responsibility for the incidents

Govt should accept that wrong announcement was made: Ex-Railway Minister

The tragedy occurred at 10 p.m. on Saturday as lakhs of devotees were heading to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh 2025 festival, causing significant overcrowding at the station

Punjab gets Rs 5,421 cr, Haryana Rs 3,416 cr for rail infra boost: Vaishnaw

The government has allocated Rs 5,421 crore to Punjab and Rs 3,416 crore to Haryana in the Union Budget to strengthen its rail infrastructure, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnav said on Monday. This year's allocation was 24 times more than what Punjab received from 2009-2014 (Rs 225 crore), the Railway Minister said in a video conference. Haryana received Rs 315 crore for its railway projects between 2009 and 2014 and this year's allocations is 11 times that number, the minister said. Vaishnav said 30 Amrit stations are being developed in Punjab at a cost of Rs 1,122 crores, and that 34 Amrit stations are being developed in Haryana at a cost of Rs 1,149 crore. In Punjab, Amrit stations are being developed in Abohar, Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, Beas, Bathinda, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar Cantt, Mansa and Malerkotla, among others. In Haryana, Ambala Cantt, Ambala City, Bahadurgarh, Ballabhgarh, Bhiwani Junction, Charkhi Dadri, Faridabad, Faridabad New Town, Gohana, Hansi, .