Progress of Indian Railways during the Modi Government Reign from 2014-2025 – Part – II

Continuing…….

Progress of Ongoing Schemes/Programmes 

1. Pace of Electrification: 5,188 RkMs of broad-gauge rail network was electrified between 2004-14 whereas more than 46,900 RkMs was electrified during the period 2014-25 putting it ahead of countries like the UK (39 per cent), Russia (52 per cent), and China (82 per cent), bringing the country closer to a fully electrified railway system, more than double the 21,801 route kilometres electrified in the previous six decades, enabling annual savings of Rs. 2960 crore for railways up to February 2025, ensuring greater financial efficiency, according to the Ministry of Railways’ press release.
2. Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems: To eliminate accidents due to human failure, Centralised Operation of Points and Signals have been provided at more than 6,600 stations as of March 31, 2025.
3. One Station One Product Scheme (OSOP): Under this Scheme of the Ministry of Railways, Indian Railways is providing enhanced opportunities to local artisans, potters, weavers, craftsmen etc. through provision of sale outlets at Railway Stations across the country. A total of 2,266 OSOP outlets are operational at 1,979 stations, making a total sale of Rs. 107.89 Crore as of March 31, 2025.
4. Freight Loading: While freight loading by Railways was 8,473 Million tonnes from 2004-2014, during 2014-25 it was more than 14,200 MT. An all-time high of 1,617.38 MT was recorded during 2024-25.
5. Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC): As opposed to the situation before 2014 when not a single kilometre of DFC was commissioned, Post 2014, more than 96% of DFC, 2843 kms, has been completed, with completion of Eastern DFC, 1337 kms and the Western DFC, 1506 ms is about to be completed.

Recent Initiatives and their progress

1. Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal (GCT): 100 GCTs have been commissioned for reducing the logistic cost and improving the Multi-modal transport.
2. Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: More than 1,300 stations are being redeveloped under the scheme, ensuring introduction of world class facilities.
3. PM Jan Aushadhi Kendra (PMJAK) – 68 PMJAKs are operating at various Railway Stations, ensuring accessibility and availability of affordable medicinal facilities at station premises.

Expansion of Metro Rail 

Metro rail is now either running, or is being built in 23 Cities. By May 2025, India had 1,013 kms of metro lines in operation, up from just 248 km in 2014. That is an addition of 765 kms in just 11 years. India now ranks globally 3^rd in terms of total metro rail network.

During this period, 34 metro projects spanning 992 km were approved. Daily ridership, which stood at 28 lakhs in 2013-14, has now crossed 1.12 crore.

The pace of commissioning new lines has grown nine times. On average, 6 kms of metro lines are now operationalised every month compared to just 0.68 km per month before 2014. The annual budget for metro rail has also increased more than 6 times, rising from Rs. 5,798 Crore in 2013 -14 to Rs. 34,807 Crore in 2025-26.

In addition to metro networks, India has also made significant strides with the introduction of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). The Namo Bharat trains operating on the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor are a prime example of India’s commitment to modernising mass transit systems offering faster and more efficient travel across regions.

Recent Cabinet Decisions

On February 7, 2025, the Union Cabinet approved the reorganisation of the Waltair Railway division. Around 410 kms, with Routes like Palasa–Visakhapatnam–Duvvada staying under the South Coast Railway as the new Visakhapatnam division. The remaining 680 kms covering Routes like Kottavalasa–Bacheli becoming a new division under East Coast Railway with headquarters at Rayagada.

On April 4, 2025, the Cabinet approved 4 Major Railway Projects worth approximately Rs. 18,658 Crore covering 15 districts across Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.

On April 9, 2025, the Cabinet approved the doubling of the 104 km Tirupati–Pakala–Katpadi Railway line at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,332 Crore.

Epilogue

The Union Cabinet’s Committee on Economic Affairs led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved 4 Railway Development Projects on Thursday July 31, 2025 covering 13 Districts across the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand increasing the existing network of Indian Railways by about 574 Kms. The decision is expected to improve operational efficiency, service reliability, and freight capacity on key railway routes. The projects are estimated to cost an estimated Rs. 11, 169 Crore & are scheduled to be completed by 2028-29.

These multi-tracking projects are expected to significantly enhance mobility & decongest high-density corridors. The projects include Itarsi–Nagpur 4th Line, Aurangabad-Parbhani Doubling, Aluabari Road-New Jalpaiguri 3rd and 4th Line as well as Dangoaposi-Jaroli 3rd and 4th Line. The projects are projected to generate direct employment for nearly 229 lakh human-days during the construction phase.

These projects will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods, and services. The project will enhance connectivity to about 2,309 villages with a population of about 43.60 lakh benefitting from improved access and economic opportunity.

The new rail lines are considered vital for transporting coal, cement, clinker, gypsum, fly ash, containers, agricultural goods, and petroleum products. The capacity augmentation is expected to facilitate additional freight traffic of up to 95.91 Million tonnes per annum (MTPA).

The initiative undertaken by the Modi government is also expected to aid India’s climate goals with the Railway ministry projecting a reduction in oil imports by 16 Crore litres & Carbon dioxide emissions by 515 Crore kilograms equivalent to planting 20 Crore trees. The multiple initiatives taken by the Railway Ministry for upgrading the Railway Infrastructure, an important part of the Total Infrastructure development in pursuit of becoming a developed country by 2047 envisioned by the Modi government therefore needs to be lauded.

END OF ARTICLE