According to a TOI report, the four areas of focus for Indian Railways in the coming days are expected to be around:
- Increasing capacity to carry more passengers & cargo
- Bringing down long waitlist and operating more trains
- Expediting penetration of Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat &
Vande Metro trains - Enhancing safety
While focusing on safety, introduction of more passenger trains and enhancing capacity to ultimately eliminate waitlists has been emphasized time and again by Indian Railways. It also aims to modernize passenger travel both for the common man through Amrit Bharat push-pull trains and for premium passengers through Vande Bharat trains. A new sleeper variant of Vande Bharat Express is being manufactured by BEML and is likely to be ready in this year.
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TOI had in April reported that the Ministry of Railways has outlined an ambitious 100-day plan for the new government following the Lok Sabha polls in 2024. This plan includes several initiatives aimed at enhancing passenger experience and modernizing the railway infrastructure.
One of the key proposals reported by TOI involves the introduction of a new 24-hour ticket refund scheme, which will streamline the current three-day process. Additionally, the ministry plans to launch a Vande Bharat sleeper train and complete the final stretch of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramula Rail Link project. Another notable project is the construction of India’s first vertical lift railway bridge, the Pamban bridge.
To further improve passenger convenience, Indian Railways intends to develop a comprehensive “super app” that will offer a range of services, including ticketing and train tracking. These measures are part of the ministry’s efforts to implement “people-friendly” initiatives, as directed by PM Modi.
