Indian Railways: Issues and Proposed Reforms

The recent train tragedy in Jalgaon, Maharashtra has brought to light critical issues surrounding passenger safety and negligence in Indian Railways.

• The Standing Committee on Railways, in its latest report, has highlighted several concerns regarding the operational and financial health of Indian Railways. 

Indian Railways at a Glance

• The history of Indian Railways dates back to over 160 years ago. 
• On 16th April 1853, the first passenger train ran between Bori Bunder (Bombay) and Thane, a distance of 34 km.
• Network Size: Indian Railways operates over 67,000 km of track across the country, making it the 4th largest rail network in the world (after the United States, Russia, and China).
• Number of Stations: There are more than 7,300 railway stations across the country.
• Passenger Traffic: Indian Railways carries over 8 billion passengers annually.
• Freight Traffic: Indian Railways handles around 1,200 million tonnes of freight every year, making it one of the largest freight carriers in the world.

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Key Issues Highlighted by the Standing Committee on Railways

• Low Average Speed of Freight Trains:
  • The average speed of freight trains over the last 11 years has been only 25.14 km/h.
  • This slow speed is seen as a major bottleneck in increasing the earnings of Indian Railways.
    • Freight services contribute significantly to IR’s revenue.

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• Revenue from Freight Services:
  • Freight services are the major source of income for Indian Railways.
  • In 2023-24, IR earned Rs. 1,68,293 crore, with a target of Rs. 1,80,000 crore for 2024-25.
  • Higher freight speeds and improved logistics are essential to meet revenue targets.
• Slow Progress in ‘Kavach’ Safety System Implementation: 
  • Kavach is an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system that helps prevent collisions by automatically applying brakes if a loco pilot fails to do so.
• Underutilization of Research & Development Funds
  • Research Design & Standards Organization (RDSO) is responsible for R&D of Indian Railways.
  • Budget allocation of R&D for FY 2024-25 is Rs. 72.01 crore, which is relatively low.
  • Funds utilization in previous years has been poor:
    • 2022-23: Out of Rs. 107 crore, only Rs. 39.12 crore was spent.
    • 2023-24: Out of Rs. 66.52 crore, only Rs. 28.34 crore was spent.
  • The Committee stressed that R&D is a long-term investment and the Railways should ensure proper utilization of funds.
• Declining Net Revenue of Indian Railways:
• • The committee noted that Indian Railways’ net revenue has been negligible in recent years:
    • 2022-23 and 2023-24: Net revenue was minimal.
    • 2024-25: The budget estimate for net revenue is just Rs.2,800 crore.
  • The primary reason for this is low revenue from the passenger segment, particularly AC classes. 
  • The committee recommended a review of passenger fares and strategies to reduce losses in this segment.

Other Issues Faced by Indian Railways

• Overburdened Tracks: Around 60% of routes operate at over 100% capacity, leading to delays and accidents.
• Train Accidents: Derailments, collisions, and level-crossing accidents continue despite safety measures.
  • In the 2023-24 financial year, there were 313 passenger deaths and four railway employee fatalities in 40 train accidents. 
• Outdated Signaling System: Many sections still use manual signaling, leading to inefficiencies.
• Slow Adoption of AI & Automation: Unlike global rail networks, IR lags in AI-based predictive maintenance.
  • The Shift2Rail program, part of the EU’s initiative to modernize rail transport, has used AI for Predictive maintenance to monitor the health of train components, Real-time monitoring of rail infrastructure and Optimizing train scheduling and route planning.
• Environmental Concerns: Expansion projects often lead to ecological damage.
  • Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link has seen protests from environmentalists due to their impact on local flora and fauna.
• Project Delays & Bureaucratic Hurdles:  Infrastructure projects often face land acquisition delays, litigation, and bureaucratic inefficiencies.
• Political Interference: Decision-making is influenced by regional and electoral considerations rather than national interest.

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Way Forward

• Infrastructure Modernization: Implement Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) and High-Speed Rail projects.
  • The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, supported by Japan’s Shinkansen technology, will reduce travel time between the cities from 8 hours to 2 hours.
• Financial Reforms: Rationalize fares, explore PPP models, and improve operational efficiency.
  • UK’s Network Rail has implemented several PPPs for infrastructure development and station upgrades, leading to improved efficiency and investment in the rail sector.
• Safety Enhancements: Expand Kavach (anti-collision system), modern signaling, and better staff training.
  • Europe’s ETCS (European Train Control System) provides real-time speed control and automatic braking to prevent accidents, contributing to one of the safest rail networks in the world.
• Passenger-Centric Reforms: Improve hygiene, ticketing systems, and station amenities.
  • The Swachh Rail, Swachh Bharat campaign focuses on cleanliness and has introduced more waste bins and cleanliness inspectors in trains and stations.
  • The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme aims to upgrade more than 500 stations, providing better facilities like waiting lounges, free Wi-Fi, and clean toilets.
• Environmental Sustainability: Focus on electrification, solar-powered stations, and waste management.
  • The Indian Railways has set a target of becoming a “Net Zero” entity by 2030 by completing electrification of all railway tracks.

Conclusion

While Indian Railways remains a vital part of India’s economy, addressing these challenges through modernization, financial restructuring, and technological advancements is crucial for its long-term sustainability and efficiency.

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