SRINAGAR: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday informed the Lok Sabha that 1,024 new trains have been introduced across the country in the post-COVID period, alongside the addition of 4,651 new coaches to existing services.
Replying to supplementary questions during Question Hour, the Minister said the expansion aims to strengthen affordable transport for the poor and middle-class passengers, who form the backbone of railway users. He noted that 78 per cent of total seats are in general and sleeper categories, reflecting the focus on mass mobility.
Vaishnaw also highlighted measures taken to curb ticketing fraud, stating that over three crore fake accounts on the IRCTC platform have been deactivated to ensure fair access for genuine users.
On safety, the Minister said railway accidents have reduced by 90 per cent due to sustained focus and policy interventions. He added that an investment of Rs 1.20 lakh crore is being made to further strengthen safety infrastructure across the network.
The government’s efforts, he said, are aimed at enhancing capacity, ensuring passenger safety and improving overall efficiency in one of the world’s largest rail networks.
