Indian Railways budget for the fiscal 2025-26 is getting ready. The kitty will get an amount of Rs 3.5 lakh crore—a rise of over 20% from last year’s budget—transforming the Indian Railway Network. Former General Manager of Indian Railways Debi Prasad Dash talks about some of the key areas that will define the future of India’s railway system. Here are the improvements and programs believed to strengthen the country’s infrastructure.
Connecting cities faster: high-speed rail projects
Indian Railways will invest most of its priorities in 2025 in HSR corridors that would significantly cut down the travel time between the major cities and improve the overall connectivity level. The key projects proposed include:
Delhi-Varanasi
Chennai-Bangalore
Mumbai-Delhi
These corridors will transform the way one travels from saving travelling time to better comfort for passengers. India is all set to adopt the best systems the international community is following in developing high-speed rail systems.
Superior Safety by Leveraging High-Tech Advances
Safety is always a major concern for Indian Railways. To this effect, several programs will be initiated during the next couple of years:
Kavach Expansion
This year, the Kavach system, one type of ATP mechanism, would be stretched along 5,000 km tracks offering more safety avoiding accidents.
Track and Bridge Upgradation
Track and bridge renewals are counted under the current railways that bring in modernization in signaling systems and introducing hard assets while bringing tough safety features to avoid increased and increased accident rates.
Surveillance by Drones
It will increase the use of patrolling by the help of drones on sensitive areas. It would become a highly tech reporting mechanism more quickly and systematically. So the network would also disseminate problems about safety issues quite well.
Infrastructure Development: Building A Stronger Network
Indian Railways is working day and night to develop its infrastructures to cater to the rising demand for passengers and freight. Here’s a look at the scope of works planned for 2025-26:
New tracks to be added to the network: 6,000 km
Upgradation of key sections to 160 km/h.
This system is to be transitioned towards 2×25 kV electric traction for higher speed and capacity.
The other upgradation as above may also be taken on this to increase the service quality, but for maintaining the importance of the railway in the overall scheme of things in the Indian economy, one of the crucial things is its rolling stock which has to expand the fleet.
Rolling Stock Expansion: Boosting Fleet Capacity
The 2025 budget also focuses much on the rolling stock expansion to meet the rising demand for both passenger and freight services. Some of the key acquisitions planned are as follows:
1,700 electric locomotives 8,500 coaches, which will include:
4,000 non-AC coaches
100 Amrit Bharat express coaches
800 Vande Bharat coaches
1,000 MEMU/EMU/Vande Metro coaches
With that, the Vande Bharat sleeper trains as well as the hydrogen-powered locomotives are coming along with the sustainability goals set by India to clean and make transport efficient.
Performance and Revenue Targets: The Pacing Growth
Indian Railways is on the path of touching a new high this fiscal year with the lofty performance targets it has set.
Freight loading is to reach 1,800 million tons and thereby revenue ₹2,00,000 crore.
Passenger revenue to be ₹90,000 crore.
Non-fare revenue is to constitute 10-15% of the total, and would increase by ₹10,500 crore.
These revenues are going to finance continued infrastructure projects and further strengthen the financial soundness of Indian Railways.
Sustainability and Efficiency: A Green Future
The sustainability of Indian Railways remains their strategy. This would also shift the focus from diesel to electric traction, thus saving fuel and reducing the carbon footprint of the rail network.
Indian Railways focuses on an improved operating ratio of 95% with expectations for higher efficiency and cost-cutting measures.
Human Resource Development and Technological Advancements
Talent management and workforce training will form the driving forces behind modernization. This will be coupled with innovative hiring strategies and performance-oriented manpower in a splendid way as the railway network increases.
This would further enhance the operational efficiency and service to customers as Indian Railways will emerge as a modern, world-class transport network by embracing cutting-edge technologies like AI, Big Data, and Industry 5.0.
Conclusion: A Promising Future for Indian Railways
The much-awaited Rs 3.5 lakh crore in the 2025 Union Budget is going to put Indian Railways on a whole new trajectory of innovation and growth. All bright and bubbly for Indian Railways with high-speed rail corridors and upgrading safety and expansion of infra; investments will add significantly to the quality of travel and economic development of the nation.
As the railway network continues to progress, the 2025-26 budget is going to change the game in India’s transport structure.
Refer :
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For more updates on the latest developments in the Indian Railways, check out our article on Katra-Budgam Rail Trial Run: Major Milestone for USBRL