What Indian Railways annual safety bill looks like

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in the Rajya Sabha on March 10, highlighted the government's commitment to railway safety, underlining an annual investment of over Rs 1 lakh crore dedicated to enhancing various safety measures.
During a discussion on the Railways (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the Upper House, he noted that concerted efforts have led to a dramatic reduction in the annual railway accident rate, dropping from 171 incidents to just 30. Vaishnaw pointed out that the current administration has made significant advancements in railway infrastructure over the past 11 years compared to the 60 years of Congress governance.

The Railways (Amendment) Bill 2024 was passed in the Upper House through a voice vote and had already been approved by the Lok Sabha in December of the previous year.


Vaishnaw stated that during the UPA government's tenure, safety investments ranged between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 crore, whereas the current government is allocating over Rs 1.14 lakh crore annually for safety improvements. He expressed that despite achieving this level of investment, there is a continuous need to address underlying issues.

He highlighted initiatives taken to upgrade railway tracks, safety devices, and level crossings, noting the complete resolution of safety concerns at 9,000 unmanned level crossings through the deployment of personnel or the construction of underpasses and flyovers.

The minister described how the field offices led by General Managers (GMs) and Divisional Railway Managers have been granted greater authority, stating that GMs now possess full authority to accept contracts regardless of their amounts and can approve projects below Rs 50 crore.

He credited this decentralization, enacted over the last decade, with facilitating faster project execution. Vaishnaw also pointed to the Prime Minister’s commitment to cooperative federalism, mentioning that states governed by parties other than the BJP have received substantial budget allocations in the railway budget.

For instance, Kerala received Rs 3,000 crore compared to Rs 372 crore in the previous UPA period; Tamil Nadu was allocated Rs 6,626 crore versus Rs 870-880 crore; Odisha saw an increase to Rs 10,000 crore from Rs 800 crore; and West Bengal received Rs 13,955 crore compared to Rs 4,380 crore under the UPA.

In response to allegations from the opposition regarding missed opportunities for railway reform, Vaishnaw insisted that ongoing reforms have been in effect for the past decade. He stated that 34,000 kilometers of new railway tracks have been laid in the last 11 years, surpassing the entire railway network of a developed nation like Germany, and noted that over 45,000 kilometers of tracks are now electrified, aiding in pollution reduction and decreasing reliance on fossil fuels.

Addressing concerns about amenities, Vaishnaw mentioned that over 3.10 lakh toilets have been constructed in railway coaches in the past 11 years. Regarding employment, he highlighted that the NDA government has created 5.02 lakh jobs compared to the 4.11 lakh jobs generated during the UPA regime.

In response to SP's Ramji Lal Suman's worries about unfilled vacancies and the lack of recruitment exams, Vaishnaw stated that two recent exams were conducted, including one for Group D, which attracted 1.26 crore candidates across multiple cities and languages.

Vaishnaw dismissed opposition fears that the Railways (Amendment) Bill 2024 would centralize power and diminish state authority, explaining that the bill aims to improve the functioning and autonomy of the Railway Board. It stipulates that the central government will oversee the appointment, qualifications, tenure, and criteria for the Chairman and Board members.

Additionally, the bill proposes establishing an independent regulator to manage fare determination and ensure competitive practices within the Railways.

During the discussions, several members, including Sandeep Kumar Pathak of AAP, V Sivadasan of CPIM, Ramji Lal Suman of SP, and BJP members Aditya Prasad and Pradip Kumar Varma, contributed their perspectives.

Pathak supported the bill but advocated for a comprehensive overhaul of railway management and increased investment in capacity building, as current expenditures heavily favour pensions and salaries. Sivadasan criticized the rail ministry for its shortcomings, claiming over 2.5 lakh posts remain unfilled and asserting that while ticket prices are rising under the guise of premium tatkal services, amenities for passengers are declining.