Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced five new reforms under the government’s “Reform Express” initiative, taking the total number of reforms introduced in 2026 to nine. The latest measures aim to improve cargo operations, infrastructure quality, and passenger convenience across Indian Railways.
Smarter Cargo Transportation
One of the key reforms focuses on improving the transportation of salt, a major bulk commodity. Indian Railways has introduced a container-based system using stainless steel containers, designed to reduce damage caused by corrosion, water seepage, and repeated handling.
These containers come with top-loading and hydraulic side-discharge systems, making loading and unloading faster and more efficient. With India producing around 35 million tonnes of salt annually, the Railways expects this move to increase its share in salt logistics.
Another important reform targets automobile transportation. Currently, railways handle about 24% of passenger vehicle movement. To improve this, the government will now allow flexible wagon designs, tailored to route-specific challenges such as tunnels and bridges, helping increase capacity and efficiency.
Stronger Infrastructure and Project Quality
The Railways has also introduced several measures to improve the quality and execution of infrastructure projects. These include:
- Stricter eligibility criteria for contractors
- Fixed bid security at 2% of project cost
- Mandatory evaluation of bid capacity for large projects
- Tighter rules on subcontracting
To prevent unrealistic or underpriced bids, additional performance guarantees will now be required for bids that fall significantly below estimated project costs. These steps are aimed at reducing delays and ensuring better accountability in project delivery.
Improved Passenger Experience
On the passenger side, several changes have been introduced to make ticketing more transparent and convenient.
To tackle misuse, the Railways has strengthened its systems with Aadhaar-based OTP verification and removed nearly three crore fake accounts from the IRCTC platform.
Cancellation rules have also been updated, allowing passengers to cancel tickets 72, 24, or 8 hours before departure, in line with revised chart preparation timings. Passengers can now also:
- Cancel counter tickets from any railway station
- Receive automatic refunds for e-tickets without extra paperwork
- Upgrade travel class up to 30 minutes before departure
- Change boarding stations digitally within the same timeframe
Building a More Efficient Railway System
The Minister said these reforms build on earlier initiatives such as improved onboard services, expansion of Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals, and digitisation of railway claims processes.
Also Read | India to Add 20,000 GPUs to Expand National AI Compute Capacity, Says Ashwini Vaishnaw
Overall, the “Reform Express” initiative reflects Indian Railways’ effort to become more efficient, technology-driven, and passenger-friendly, while also strengthening its role in freight transportation and infrastructure development.
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