Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday announced five new reforms under the “Reform Express” initiative, taking the total number of reforms introduced in 2026 to nine.
The newly approved measures focus on cargo transportation, infrastructure quality, and passenger convenience, aimed at improving efficiency and enhancing service delivery across Indian Railways.
Among cargo-related reforms, the Railways has introduced a new container-based system for salt transportation. The move is expected to address long-standing issues such as corrosion of wagons, water seepage, and multiple handling stages that increase costs and losses. The newly developed stainless steel containers feature top-loading and hydraulic side-discharge mechanisms, enabling seamless multimodal transport and reducing damage to goods.
India produces around 35 million tonnes of salt annually, of which nearly 9.2 million tonnes are transported by rail. The government expects the new system to increase the railways’ share in salt logistics.
Another reform targets automobile transportation, where rail currently accounts for about 24 per cent of passenger vehicle movement. The Railways will now allow flexible wagon designs tailored to specific routes, addressing constraints posed by tunnels and bridges and improving capacity utilisation.
On infrastructure, the Minister outlined seven key changes to strengthen construction quality and project execution. These include stricter eligibility criteria for contractors, fixed bid security at two per cent of project cost, mandatory assessment of bid capacity for larger projects, and tighter controls on subcontracting.
The reforms also introduce safeguards against predatory bidding, requiring additional performance guarantees for bids significantly below estimated project costs. These measures aim to improve accountability, reduce delays, and ensure timely completion of projects.
In the passenger segment, the Railways has introduced measures to curb misuse of ticketing systems and improve access for genuine travellers. These include enhanced technology to detect fraudulent bookings, Aadhaar-based OTP verification, and the removal of nearly three crore fake accounts from the IRCTC system.
Cancellation rules have also been revised, with timelines extended to 72, 24, and 8 hours before departure, aligned with earlier preparation of reservation charts. Passengers will also be able to cancel counter tickets from any railway station, while refunds for e-tickets will be processed automatically without requiring a Ticket Deposit Receipt.
Additionally, passengers can now upgrade their travel class up to 30 minutes before departure, and change their boarding station digitally within the same timeframe, offering greater flexibility.
The Minister said these reforms build on earlier initiatives, including improvements in onboard services, expansion of Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals, and digitisation of the Railway Claims Tribunal.
He added that the measures are aimed at strengthening operational efficiency, promoting innovation, and enhancing the overall passenger experience across the railway network.
-ANI
