Context:
Recent incidents like the Mysuru-Darbanga Express collision highlight the persistent safety and operational challenges facing Indian Railways.
Challenges of Indian Railways:
- Frequent Train Accidents: High-profile accidents such as Balasore (2023) and Kavaraipettai (2024) point to significant safety gaps, with human error (55.8%) and signaling issues being the primary causes.
- Limited Deployment of Kavach: Despite being a collision prevention system, Kavach covers just 2% of the railway network due to its high cost (₹50 lakh per kilometer) and slow implementation.
- High Operating Ratio (OR): With an OR of 98.2 for 2024-25, Indian Railways is spending a large portion of its earnings on operations, leaving limited funds for investments and increasingly relying on government support.
- Freight Congestion: Freight, which generates 65% of railway revenues, faces delays due to congestion, reducing average freight speeds to 26 km/h. Delays in implementing Dedicated Freight Corridors exacerbate these issues.
- Dependence on Coal Freight: Railways’ heavy reliance on coal for revenue presents sustainability risks, especially as India pushes for a shift towards renewable energy.
- Track and Maintenance Issues: In 2023-24, only 7.2% of the capital budget was allocated for track renewal, hindering maintenance and upgrades.
- Passenger Service Losses: Indian Railways continues to suffer losses in passenger services, totaling ₹68,269 crore in 2021-22, despite increased revenues in 2024-25.
- Capacity Constraints: Around 30% of the railway network is operating above 100% capacity, leading to delays and challenges in rolling out new safety technologies like Kavach.
- Rising Costs: Wage, pension, and fuel costs are rising, adding to the financial strain on operations. Additionally, the stressful working conditions for locomotive pilots further impact efficiency.
Government Initiatives to Improve Indian Railways:
- Kavach Safety System: A collision-prevention mechanism that provides real-time alerts and automatic braking to avert accidents.
- Track Expansion: In 2022-23, 5,243 km of new tracks were laid, reducing congestion and improving network performance.
- Gauge Conversion: Between 2014 and 2022, around 1,544 km of new lines and gauge conversions were completed, enhancing connectivity.
- High-Speed Rail: The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project, with an estimated cost of $14.27 billion, aims to provide faster rail services.
- Gati Shakti Master Plan: A comprehensive strategy to improve multimodal connectivity and enhance freight and passenger logistics by optimizing operational efficiency across transport sectors.
- Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC): The Eastern DFC (Ludhiana to Dankuni) and Western DFC (Dadri to Jawaharlal Nehru Port) aim to increase freight capacity and streamline industrial transport.
- Budget Integration: The merger of the railway budget with the general budget in 2016-17 increased flexibility in budgetary support and reduced dependency on internal revenue sources.
- Railway Electrification: Indian Railways aims for 100% electrification by 2024. As of 2023, 61,813 km of broad-gauge track has been electrified, saving approximately $1.55 billion annually.
- Automatic Block Signaling (ABS): Implemented over 3,946 route kilometers, ABS enhances operational safety.
- Technological and Green Initiatives: By 2024, Wi-Fi will be available at 6,089 railway stations to improve passenger experience, and more than 1,000 stations will be solarized to promote sustainable energy.
- Freight Optimization: In 2022-23, Indian Railways achieved a record freight loading of 1,512 MT, with a target of 2,024 MT by 2024. Coal remains the main source of freight revenue.
- FDI in Railways: 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is allowed in railway infrastructure projects, including station modernization, high-speed rail corridors, and technological upgrades.
- Vande Bharat Trains: 400 Vande Bharat trains are planned, providing faster, more efficient travel on key routes.
Way Forward for Indian Railways:
- Expand Kavach System: The Kakodkar Committee (2012) recommended deploying Kavach across the entire network.
- Dedicated Freight Corridors: Increasing freight capacity by 70% could drastically reduce transit times. For instance, the Eastern DFC could cut the journey from Ludhiana to Kolkata from 60 hours to 24 hours.
- Diversifying Revenue Sources: Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are expected to attract around ₹20,000 crores by 2024, reducing dependence on ticket sales for revenue.
- 100% Electrification by 2024: At present, 85% of the railway network is electrified, and renewable energy projects, such as solar installations, aim to generate 20 GW.
- Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS): Real-time traffic management, automated train control, and digitizing ticket sales (70% by 2025) can improve operational efficiency.
- Fast-Track High-Speed Rail: High-speed rail projects like the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route will significantly reduce travel times.
- Infrastructure Improvements: Upgrading infrastructure and optimizing train schedules are crucial to accommodating the 8% annual passenger growth.
- Staff Training: Enhancing staff skills and improving working conditions, particularly for locomotive pilots, could increase efficiency.
- Passenger Amenities: Upgrading station facilities and improving onboard services remain high priorities, with a survey indicating 78% of passengers desire better sanitation.
- Robust Frameworks: The Bibek Debroy Committee emphasized setting key performance indicators, targeting a 20% improvement in service delivery.