Will Private Trains Run On Indian Railway Tracks? Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Answers

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Wednesday addressed the Lok Sabha saying that the opposition is creating a "fake narrative" on the issue of the privatisation of railways.

While responding to concerns raised during a debate in the Parliament, the Union Minister of Railways denied the claim that the passing of the Railways (Amendment) Bill would lead to the privatisation of railways. This, he said was an attempt by the opposition to create a "fake narrative".

He further added that the amendment is aimed solely at improving the operational efficiency of the Indian railways.

“Their (opposition) fake narrative on the Constitution has already failed, and now this one will also fall flat,” Vaishnaw said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

The Union Minister also appealed to the opposition to not mislead the public in such a manner, so as to enable the advancement of the goals of the railway sector.

Ashwini Vaishnaw further informed the parliament that the Indian Railways will add an additional 12,000 general coaches to trains.

"To meet the growing demand for general coaches, a special manufacturing programme has been launched, aiming to produce 12,000 general coaches. Out of this, 900 have already been added this financial year, with a target of manufacturing 10,000 more, ensuring convenience for unreserved category passengers," Vaishnaw said.

Vaishnaw also informed the parliament that recruitment for 58,642 positions is currently being processed in the railways.

Over 11 lakh candidates had recently participated in a loco pilot selection process, he said, adding that the government is committed to providing maximum employment opportunities in the Railways in a transparent manner.

What Does The Amendment Seek To Do?

The Railways (Amendment) Bill 2024 aims to streamline governance and decision-making within the Indian Railways by giving more autonomy to the Railway Board.

Key Features Of The Amendment:

* Enhanced and efficient decision-making capabilities for the Railway Board, to make decisions independently.

* Operational efficiency with measures that enforce the overall functionality of the railways.

* Alignment of the administrative framework with global standards to improve service delivery.