Indian Railways Aiming for World-Class Travel at Nominal Cost

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Indian Railways is undertaking an ambitious transformation to offer faster, safer, and world-class travel experiences at nominal costs to billions of Indians. In a mission-mode approach, the organization is adapting to cater to the geographically, culturally, socially, and economically diverse population of India. As part of this effort, Indian Railways has spent 76 percent of its budgetary outlay within the first nine months and four days of the current fiscal year. According to the latest expenditure report up to January 5, 2025, substantial investments have been made in capacity augmentation to elevate rail travel standards in India.

The continuous capital expenditure over the past decade has resulted in significant advancements, including the introduction of 136 Vande Bharat trains, 97 percent electrification of broad gauge, the laying of new lines, gauge conversion, track doubling, traffic facilities work, and investments in public sector units and metropolitan transport. These investments have enhanced travel experiences for millions of Indians. With Vande Bharat sleeper trains currently undergoing speed testing and safety certification, long-distance rail travel in India is poised to reach world-class standards, revolutionizing the overall travel experience.

Despite challenges posed by India’s vast geographical, cultural, and linguistic diversity, Indian Railways is implementing transformative governance to build a modern and connected nation. The organization is investing in infrastructure, technology, and sustainable practices to ensure long-term progress. The complexity of this task involves balancing current demands while investing heavily in future developments.

As of the first four seven of January 2025, Indian Railways has invested INR 1,198 crore in capital expenditure, bringing the total expenditure to 76 percent of the budget with nearly three months remaining in the fiscal year. The total capital expenditure for the 2024-25 budget is INR 2,65,200 crore, with a gross budgetary support of INR 2,52,200 crore. Of this, INR 1,92,446 crore has already been spent. For rolling stock, the budgetary provision was INR 50,903 crore, with INR 40,367 crore spent by January 5, 2025, accounting for 79 percent of the allotted budget. In safety-related works, INR 28,281 crore has been spent out of the INR 34,412 crore budget, representing 82 percent of the allocated amount.

The government has prioritized transforming Indian Railways into a world-class entity, serving an average of 23 million Indians daily at affordable costs. The organization is committed to investing taxpayer money in capital expenditure to create state-of-the-art infrastructure for future generations. This vision aligns with the broader goal of making Indian Railways “future-ready” as the nation progresses towards Viksit Bharat.

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