Minister says Indian Railways is world’s second-largest freight carrier.
Indian Railways is pushing rapid electrification, with 99.1% of the broad-gauge network already converted to electric lines.
New Delhi: The Union government has announced a significant rise in freight movement by Indian Railways, highlighting its growing strength as a global logistics powerhouse. According to official data presented in the Lok Sabha, freight loading increased from 1,233 million tonnes (MT) in 2020–21 to 1,617 MT in 2024–25, a major leap that now places Indian Railways as the second-largest freight-carrying rail network in the world.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, responding to queries during the parliamentary session, said the Railways has focused on keeping freight transport competitive despite rising operational costs. He emphasized that freight rates have not been revised since 2018, even though input and energy costs have gone up significantly over the years. This deliberate policy, he said, is aimed at supporting industries, maintaining cost efficiency, and encouraging more businesses to shift freight movement from road to rail.
On the passenger front, Vaishnaw acknowledged that fare revisions became necessary after more than five years. Passenger fares were rationalised from July 1, 2025, but the minister stressed that the increase was “very minimal,” ranging from half a paise per kilometre to two paise per kilometre, depending on the travel class.
He explained the adjustments in detail:
- General Class: No increase for journeys up to 500 km; beyond that, only a half-paise rise per km.
- Sleeper Class Ordinary & First Class Ordinary: A nominal half-paise increase per km.
- Non-AC classes in Mail/Express trains: One paise per km.
- Reserved AC Classes: Two paise per km.
Vaishnaw clarified that the government was careful not to burden low- and middle-income travellers. As a result, Monthly Season Tickets (MST) and suburban train fares—widely used by daily commuters—remain unchanged. This decision, he said, reflects the Railways’ commitment to affordability and social responsibility.
Major Investments to Boost Capacity
To support India’s rapidly expanding economy, the Railways has launched multiple projects aimed at enhancing the capacity, efficiency, and mobility of both freight and passenger services. The minister informed Parliament that network expansion has been taken up “in a big way.” This includes:
- Construction of new railway lines,
- Doubling and tripling of existing tracks, and
- Gauge conversion to ensure seamless movement across the network.
As of April 1, 2025, there are 431 sanctioned projects, consisting of:
- 154 New Line projects,
- 33 Gauge Conversion projects, and
- 244 Doubling projects.
These upgrades are intended to not only increase freight capacity but also reduce congestion, speed up train movement, and improve safety across the system.
Electrification Nearing Full Completion
One of the most transformative developments has been the Railways’ aggressive push for 100% electrification of the Broad Gauge network. Electrification is crucial for cutting fuel costs, improving efficiency, and reducing carbon emissions.
Vaishnaw reported that the project is now almost complete: 99.1% of the Broad Gauge network has already been electrified, marking a historic milestone for the national transporter. Once full electrification is achieved, India will be among the few countries with such an extensive electric rail network.
Strengthening Rolling Stock
To further increase freight capacity, Indian Railways has greatly expanded its fleet. Between 2014 and 2025, the Railways procured around 2 lakh wagons and added more than 10,000 locomotives. This large-scale addition of rolling stock has helped improve turnaround time, enhance mobility, and ensure that industries have uninterrupted access to freight services.
These measures, Vaishnaw said, reflect the Railways’ long-term vision of becoming not only a reliable passenger carrier but also the backbone of India’s logistics and supply-chain ecosystem.
A Growing Pillar of the Economy
With freight volumes rising steadily, extensive network upgrades underway, and electrification nearing completion, Indian Railways is positioning itself as a central driver of India’s economic growth. The government believes that these improvements will continue to attract industries, reduce logistics costs, and encourage a greater shift from road to rail—offering both environmental and economic benefits.
As India moves toward its goal of becoming a USD 5-trillion economy, the Railways—already one of the world’s largest networks—is strengthening its role as a modern, efficient, and future-ready transport system.