Standing Committee on Railways

Context: The Standing Committee on Railways presented its latest report in Parliament, highlighting inefficiency in Railways.

About Standing Committee Report on Railways:

• Freight Train Speed: Average speed over the past 11 years: 25.14 km/h. Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC): Eastern DFC: Completed. Western DFC: 102 km section to be completed by December 2025.

• Average speed over the past 11 years: 25.14 km/h.

• Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC): Eastern DFC: Completed. Western DFC: 102 km section to be completed by December 2025.

• Eastern DFC: Completed.

• Western DFC: 102 km section to be completed by December 2025.

• Revenue Insights: 2023–24 revenue from freight: ₹1,68,293 crore. 2024–25 target: ₹1,80,000 crore. Recommendation: Keep general class fares affordable. Align AC class fares with operational costs to reduce passenger segment losses.

• 2023–24 revenue from freight: ₹1,68,293 crore.

• 2024–25 target: ₹1,80,000 crore.

• Recommendation: Keep general class fares affordable. Align AC class fares with operational costs to reduce passenger segment losses.

• Keep general class fares affordable.

• Align AC class fares with operational costs to reduce passenger segment losses.

• Research and Development (R&D): Budget allocation for 2024–25: ₹72.01 crore. Actual spending: ₹39.12 crore (2022–23) and ₹28.34 crore (2023–24). Recommendation: Invest prudently in R&D for modernization and efficiency.

• Budget allocation for 2024–25: ₹72.01 crore.

• Actual spending: ₹39.12 crore (2022–23) and ₹28.34 crore (2023–24).

• Recommendation: Invest prudently in R&D for modernization and efficiency.

• Invest prudently in R&D for modernization and efficiency.

Relevance in UPSC Syllabus:

• GS Paper 3 – Infrastructure:

• Highlights challenges and progress in railway infrastructure (e.g., DFCs, freight speed).

• GS Paper 3 – Science and Technology: Role of KAVACH system and emphasis on R&D for modernization and safety.

• Role of KAVACH system and emphasis on R&D for modernization and safety.

• GS Paper 2 – Governance: Importance of parliamentary committee recommendations in policymaking and implementation.

• Importance of parliamentary committee recommendations in policymaking and implementation.