Taking the ‘Reform Express’ forward, Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw announced eight more structural reforms today to modernize Indian Railways. With this, the total number of reforms implemented under this initiative has reached 17. These new reforms will bring about significant changes in freight transport, logistics, construction methods, project execution, wagon design, skill development, and the ease of doing business.
Addressing the media at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi, Shri Vaishnaw stated that Indian Railways is undertaking numerous reforms to create a future-ready railway system. These reforms are part of the Ministry’s goal to implement 52 reforms in 52 weeks to enhance efficiency, foster innovation, and strengthen the railway system. Shri Vaishnaw noted that the reforms previously announced under the ‘Reform Express’ initiative have already started yielding encouraging results.
Reform 10: Transportation of Fly Ash
Indian Railways has introduced a new container-based system for the transportation of fly ash. Under the new policy, specially designed ISO-standard containers will be used for transport. These containers can be filled directly from power plants using a top-loading system and emptied via side-discharge or pneumatic systems without causing dust pollution.
Reform 11: Reforms in the Container Sector
Under the new system, operators will be able to run container trains across the entire Indian Railways network without any category-based restrictions. The registration process has also been simplified through a uniform, non-refundable registration fee of ₹25 crore applicable to all routes.
Reform 12: Transportation of Fertilizer
Under these reforms, fertilizers can also be transported via containers. Previously, the entire rake had to be detained at a single location until the cargo was fully unloaded; now, individual containers can be unloaded and stored at rake points according to requirements. This will facilitate distribution in phases, based on the distributors’ requirements and their capacity to lift goods.
Reform 13: Policy for imparting skills to artisans in railway projects and operations
Under the new framework, project-specific skills will be identified, and workers will undergo practical and oral assessments conducted by designated testing officials. Successful candidates will receive skill certificates featuring QR codes linked to a live verification database.
The Union Minister stated that the implementation of this policy will begin with major and complex railway projects—such as bridges and tunnels—and will be extended to all zonal railways and production units over the next 24 months.
Reform 14: Construction-related reforms
Under these reforms, the 10 percent performance security will be collected at the commencement of the contract, rather than being recovered through deductions from running bills. This measure aims to ensure that only serious contractors participate in railway projects and to strengthen their accountability throughout the execution of the work.
To curb contractual practices that lead to legal disputes, stringent eligibility criteria have also been introduced. Contractors with pending legal cases exceeding 50 percent of their net worth will be ineligible to participate in railway tenders.
Reform 15: Policy for wagon design approval
Highlighting another major structural reform, Mr. Vaishnaw announced a new policy for the approval of wagon designs. The objective is to foster innovation and enable industry participation in the design of specialized freight wagons.
Reform 16: Transportation of petroleum products
Indian Railways has removed structural barriers related to the design and induction of petroleum tank wagons. Oil companies will now be able to directly purchase specialized wagons—or lease them through leasing agencies—and operate them on the Indian Railways network to meet specific requirements.
Reform 17: Transportation of Grains, Flour, and Pulses
Under the new policy, the earlier complex slab-based freight structure has been replaced by a simplified rate structure based on a ‘per tonne per kilometre’ basis. This change permits the transportation of grains, flour, and pulses in containers, thereby facilitating easier handling, improved storage, and phased distribution tailored to operational requirements.
