Indian Railways achieves over 90% punctuality rate

Indian Railways has reported an impressive on-time performance of over 90%. This achievement comes from using advanced technology such as better signalling systems, real-time monitoring, AI scheduling, and predictive maintenance. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared this information in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Of the 68 railway divisions in India, 49 have a punctuality rate above 80%, and 12 divisions boast a 95% punctuality rate. The Lok Sabha has since approved the Demands for Grants for the railway ministry for the upcoming year. Currently, over 13,000 passenger trains are in operation, surpassing the number before the pandemic. Vaishnaw highlighted efforts to improve connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir. He mentioned that a new train will soon connect Jammu to Srinagar, with all safety inspections completed. The completion of two bridges over the Anji and Chenab rivers has made this connection possible. On the freight corridor, Vaishnaw criticized past governments for not completing it sooner. He noted that upcoming operations will feature 350 daily trains, cutting travel time to ports in half. The current government has also built 97 Gati Shakti cargo terminals, with more under construction. Since 2014, Indian Railways has constructed 460 kilometers of new tunnels, four times more than before. The minister praised Indian engineers for their skills and innovation in tunneling techniques. He also commented on the ongoing bullet train project, stressing the need for a modern mindset toward such large-scale projects. Vaishnaw stated that Indian Railways is on track to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2025. Investment in safety has increased significantly under the current government, reaching Rs. 1.16 lakh crore. Additionally, due to strong demand, 50 new Vande Bharat chair car trains and 260 sleeper trains will be manufactured, along with new non-AC and MEMU trains.