Railway Reforms Recent
Railway Reforms Recent (2020-25)
Overview
Indian Railways has rolled out its biggest transformation drive since 2020 under the National Rail Plan (NRP) & “Amrit Bharat” vision. The reforms aim at 100 % electrification, private participation, asset monetisation, safety upgradation and Gati-Shakti cargo targets by 2030.
Key Facts & Figures
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1. 100 % Electrification target | 31-12-2025 (achieved 95 % till Nov 2025) |
| 2. Kavach (indigenous ATP) | 3,000 km commissioned; 4,000 km tendered (2025-26) |
| 3. Vande Bharat trains inducted | 102 rakes (till Dec 2025); target 400 by 2027 |
| 4. Highest ghat section electrified | 2.5 % gradient in Braganza Ghat (Goa) – 2024 |
| 5. Station redevelopment cost | ₹1.1 lakh cr. under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (1,309 stations) |
| 6. First private train run | Mumbai Central–Gandhinagar VB (Oct 2022) |
| 7. RailTel free Wi-Fi | 6,000 stations; 1.3 crore log-ins/month |
| 8. Gati-Shakti cargo share target | 45 % by 2030 (from 27 % in 2020) |
| 9. Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFCC) | 1,337 km EDFC & 1,875 km WDFC completed (Mar 2025) |
| 10. New freight speed | 90 km/h for container; 75 km/h for bulk (2025) |
| 11. Rail land monetisation | ₹7,000 cr. revenue in 2024-25 through IRSDC, RLDA |
| 12. “One Station One Product” | 850 stalls operational (Dec 2025) |
| 13. “One Nation One Ration Card” | 100 % rail-side implementation (2024) |
| 14. “Rail Madad” unified helpline | 139 (24×7, 12 languages) |
| 15. “Satark” AI-enabled surveillance | 600 stations covered under NCRB pilot |
| 16. “RailCloud” Phase-II | 100 % migration of passenger & freight modules |
| 17. “UTS on Mobile” tickets | 92 % of suburban journeys (Dec 2025) |
| 18. “VistaDome” coaches | 43 tourist circuits (2025) |
| 19. “Bharat Gaurav” theme trains | 42 trains run by 28 private operators |
| 20. Carbon-neutral target | Net-zero by 2030 through 1 GW solar + 200 MW wind |
Important Points
- Amrit Bharat Station Scheme replaces earlier Smart Stations & IRSDC models; 90 % cost borne by RLDA land monetisation.
- Kavach is certified by RDSO & TAC; it gives 10 % head-on-collision & 15 % derailment risk reduction.
- Vande Bharat sleeper & 8-car mini variants cleared in 2025 for overnight & regional routes.
- Gati-Shakti Vishwa Vidyalaya (Rail university) at Vadodara started MTech in Railway Engineering (2024).
- New Freight Marketing Policy (2023) allows “train-on-demand” in 2 hrs with 15 % dynamic discount.
- RailTel & CDAC launched 5G-ready “Mobile Train Radio Communication” on 1,200 km golden quadrilateral.
- “Railways (Management of Stations) Regulations 2025” empowers DRMs to lease space via e-auction up to 45 years.
- “Zero-based Time-Table” (2025) saves 4,500 loco hours/day & adds 1,100 new services without extra rake.
- “One Station One Product” is aligned with “Vocal for Local” & Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana.
- Railways contributed ₹1.2 lakh cr. to Indian GDP in FY 24-25 (NCAER study).
Frequently Asked in Exams
- Deadline & current status of 100 % electrification.
- Kavach—full form, developer & safety benefits.
- Difference between Vande Bharat (Chair-car) & VB-Sleeper.
- DFCC alignment & cargo speed achieved.
- Amrit Bharat Station Scheme financing model & nodal agency.
Practice MCQs
1. The 100 % rail electrification target set by Indian Railways is
Answer: 31 December 2025
2. “Kavach” is
Answer: An indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection system
3. As on Dec 2025, how many Vande Bharat rakes are in service?
Answer: 102
4. The total route km of both DFC corridors completed by March 2025 is
Answer: 3,212 km (1,337 km EDFC + 1,875 km WDFC)
5. Which agency is nodal for Amrit Bharat Station redevelopment?
Answer: RLDA
6. Under Gati-Shakti, Indian Railways aims to raise its modal share to
Answer: 45 % by 2030
7. The unified rail helpline number “139” is branded as
Answer: Rail Madad
8. First private semi-high-speed train on Indian Railways is
Answer: Mumbai Central–Gandhinagar Vande Bharat (Oct 2022)
9. “One Station One Product” scheme is implemented through
Answer: IRCTC & Self-Help Groups
10. Indian Railways’ net-zero carbon target year is
Answer: 2030
BETA
