SRINAGAR: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said a record budget allocation to the railways sector is driving nationwide benefits, particularly for the poor and middle class, while enabling major operational and infrastructure gains.
Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, the Minister stated that sustained investments over the past decade have significantly strengthened the railway network and improved services for citizens across the country.
Highlighting operational expansion, Vaishnaw said around 25,000 trains are currently running daily across the network. He added that in the last financial year, the Railways operated 76,352 special trains to meet rising passenger demand.
On the freight front, the Minister informed the House that Indian Railways has achieved a record freight loading of 1,670 million metric tonnes this year, underlining its growing role in the country’s logistics and economic framework.
Vaishnaw also pointed to improvements in safety, stating that the railway system has witnessed notable progress in recent years. He added that the sector has recorded strong earnings, reflecting enhanced efficiency, higher capacity utilisation, and expanding scale of operations.
The Minister reiterated that the record budgetary support is enabling modernization, increased connectivity, and better services, positioning the railways as a key driver of inclusive growth.
