Rajya Sabha Passes Historic Railways Bill: Empowering Zones, Boosting Safety, and Modernizing Operations

New Delhi: In a significant move to overhaul India’s railway operations, the Rajya Sabha passed the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aimed at modernizing infrastructure, enhancing safety, and decentralizing decision-making. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that the bill would empower railway zones, streamline governance, and strengthen cooperative federalism.

During his address, Vaishnaw assured Parliament that the bill does not curtail state government powers but instead decentralizes authority, allowing general managers to approve projects worth up to ₹1,000 crore. He highlighted the government’s state-wise railway development efforts, noting increased budget allocations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and West Bengal, states where the ruling party is not in power.

The Minister showcased India’s remarkable railway expansion, stating that in the past 11 years, India has laid 34,000 kilometers of new railway tracks, surpassing Germany’s total rail network. Additionally, 45,000 kilometers of electrification have been completed, 50,000 kilometers of old tracks replaced, and investment in railway safety has surged to ₹1.14 lakh crore under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

The bill also prioritizes railway safety, with Vaishnaw announcing a 91% reduction in rail fractures, a sharp decline in accidents, and the implementation of Kavach – India’s advanced railway safety system with SIL 4 certification.

On employment and capacity building, Vaishnaw stated that the NDA government has provided 5,02,000 jobs, outpacing the 4,11,000 jobs under the UPA era. He also highlighted transparent recruitment exams and enhanced training programs for railway employees.

In a push for passenger amenities, the government has installed 3,10,000 modern toilets in railway coaches, fully air-conditioned 558 loco pilot running rooms, and introduced new state-of-the-art locomotives. To address crowd management concerns, full access control will be implemented at 60 major stations, ensuring only ticketed passengers enter platforms.

Vaishnaw concluded by reaffirming PM Modi’s vision for ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India), urging railway employees to work three times harder to build on the foundation laid over the past decade.