Modernisation in Indian Railway

Railways form the backbone of Indian transport and modernisation of Indian Railways is crucial for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat. Earlier in the year, Indian Railways achieved a significant milestone by upgrading over 23,000 track kilometers (TKM) of the Indian Railways network to support train speeds of up to 130 kilometres per hour (kmph).

This progress not only shows the commitment to modernise railway, but also how India is rapidly achieving the transition to herald a new era of Indian economy. 

What does the Budget offer Railways?

Until a few years back, the Indian Railways (IR) had a separate Railway Budget that focused on the development of this mode of transport. However, ever since the budget was clubbed with the General Budget in 2017, the railway budget does not garner the same level of attention. The Union Budget of 2025-26 allocated 2.52 lakh crore for Indian Railways, a 3.9% increase over FY24. The budget for IR will mostly be used in modernization of track infrastructure, installation of safety measures, adding more routes for the flagship semi-high-speed train, the Vande Bharat Express and enhancing passenger amenities. 

Steps to Modernise Indian Railways 

According to the Economic Survey 2024-25, 17 new pairs of Vande Bharat trains were introduced to the network, and 228 coaches were produced between April and October 2024. Other than this, 91 Gati Shakti multi-modal Cargo Terminal have been commissioned and 17 projects for the value of ₹16,434 crore has been completed under the PPP model. 

As India aims to be Net Zero by 2070, the Indian railways is also doing its bit and has already commissioned 375 MW of solar and 103 MW of wind energy as of October 2024. The aim is to achieve 30 GW of renewable energy by 2029-30.

Other than the addition of infrastructure, several key initiatives to enhance passenger experience, safety and station amenities are currently ongoing. Some of the notable projects include: 

• Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: Under this initiative, railway stations amenities are being redeveloped to provide a modernised railway station and better experience for passengers. 
• Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs): This initiative is aimed to enhance the wellness and welfare of passengers passing through railway stations by providing affordable medications and healthcare services. 
• One Station One Product Scheme: In order to promote the manufacturing capacity and enhance the livelihood of local artisans, the scheme has been operational at 1,900 stations to sell their products. 
• Elimination of mechanical signalling: IR is replacing mechanical signalling with Electrical/Electronic Interlocking systems to provide for better operational efficiency and safety. 
• Kavach: This is an indigenously developed Automated Train Protection system that helps prevent collisions and derailments of trains. 
• Automatic Block Signalling (ABS): ABS is being installed to enhance capacity on high-density routes and allows for safe transition of trains without risk of rear-end collision. 

Future Recommendations 

Although IR has made considerable progress, it still has a long way to go to meet present and future requirements and meet global standards. In order to meet the challenges of the sector, the focus should be on modern infrastructure solutions, reducing travel time, boosting economic growth and fast-tracking doubling and quadrupling of tracks to increase the capacity of congested routes. 

Despite various schemes, private sector participation has not been very forthcoming in railways. There is a need to have more PPPs beyond  multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs) to help with quicker adoption of modern solutions. While passenger trains have been the center of modernisation efforts, the modal share of railways in freight has not been very high. Railways have to be made more ‘user-friendly’ for industries such as e-commerce and development of customised wagons and containers for better logistics and enhanced sustainability. 

To transform IR into green railways, 100% electrification of the broad-gauge network must be looked at to improve energy efficiency of locomotives and trains. Furthermore, the use of technology must be the prime focus of IR to deliver real-time decision making, enhance productivity and expand smart manufacturing units. 

Accomplishment of IR reflects its commitment towards providing efficient, innovative and passenger-centric services, while also contributing to the economic progress of the country. Modernisation of railway is a mammoth task- one that requires collective efforts of all stakeholders to drive India towards the vision of Viksit Bharat.