New Delhi, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that India has the potential to save Rs 1.28 lakh crore annually in diesel costs by 2031 through efficient transportation of an additional 1500 million tonnes of cargo via trains. Speaking at the 68th National Railways Awards, Vaishnaw highlighted the expected economic growth leading to a rise in cargo movement by 3000 million tonnes within the country by 2031.
He emphasized that Indian Railways aims to capture half of this incremental cargo growth, resulting in a substantial reduction of 16,000 crore litres of diesel consumption each year. This reduction would translate to an annual savings of Rs 1.28 lakh crore for India, as reported by ET.
Despite achieving a record high of 1512 million tonnes of cargo transported during the fiscal year 2022-23, representing an increase from 1418 million tonnes in the previous year, Indian Railways currently accounts for less than 30% of India’s total cargo movement. The majority of cargo is still transported by road, according to official estimates.
Vaishnaw outlined the progress in railway infrastructure development, including the construction of new tracks and the addition of multiple lines to existing ones. He also highlighted the introduction of over 200 new rakes in the past two years, along with technologically advanced trains such as Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat.
Vande Bharat, a semi-high-speed AC service, and Amrit Bharat, a push-pull technology non-AC train, are part of the efforts to modernize the railway system. Vaishnaw recognized the outstanding services of 100 Railway employees during the event.
In terms of India’s economic growth, the minister predicted that the country would rise to one of the top three global economies by 2027, up from its current ranking of fifth. He urged senior Railway officers to eliminate any remnants of a colonial mindset to ensure a modern and efficient railway system.
