- By Imran Zafar
- Tue, 18 Mar 2025 05:12 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that railway fares in India remain significantly lower compared to neighbouring countries. Addressing the Rajya Sabha on Monday, he stated that for the first 350 km, a general class fare in India is Rs 121, whereas in Pakistan it is Rs 400 and in Sri Lanka Rs 413. He further highlighted that railway fares in Western countries are 10-20 times higher than in India and noted that there has been no fare increase since 2020.
The union minister revealed that the cost per passenger is Rs 1.38 per km, but passengers are charged only 72 paise. In 2023-24, around Rs 57,000 crore was allocated for passenger subsidies, he said.
Ashwini Vaishnaw criticised the opposition for making "misleading" statements about railway recruitment. He asserted that over five lakh people have been appointed in the railways over the past decade, with an ongoing recruitment process for an additional one lakh positions.
Dismissing corruption allegations in recruitment, he asserted that the process remains transparent, with youth comprising 40 per cent of the railway workforce. The current workforce stands at 12 lakh employees. Stressing the importance of the Railways and the Defence Ministry as the nation’s backbone, he urged political opponents to avoid politicising these sectors.
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Highlighting Indian Railways' freight achievements, the union minister stated that India ranks behind only China and the US in freight capacity. He projected that soon, the country would rank among the top three nations, with a freight capacity reaching 1.6 billion tonnes. He added that freight revenue subsidises passenger fares travelling in Indian Railways.
Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that India is set to export locomotives from Bihar’s Madhepura factory. This year alone, 1,400 locomotives have been produced—surpassing the combined output of the US and Europe.
Passenger coaches are being exported to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, while kilo-commutes are being sent to Myanmar and Bangladesh. India is also exporting under-frames of bogies to the UK, Saudi Arabia, France and Australia, along with propulsion parts to France, Mexico, Germany, Spain, Romania and Italy.
Ashwini Vaishnaw also stated that to accommodate common travellers, non-AC and unreserved coaches are being increased, maintaining a 70:30 ratio between non-AC and AC coaches. Indian Railways is preparing over 17,000 non-AC coaches for various trains, ensuring better accessibility for passengers.
He added that 1,107 special trains are being operated for Holi, along with permanent improvements at 60 railway stations, including permanent holding areas and access control. Vaishnaw called for cooperation from state governments, particularly in opposition-ruled states, to expedite pending railway projects.