CAG To Audit Key Indian Railways Programmes By 2026

12 Nov 2025 CW Team

Additional Deputy CAG Pravir Pandey stated that one of the key focus areas will be the audit of Multi-Modal Transport and Logistics Initiatives under Indian Railways. This audit aligns with the National Rail Plan (NRP) 2030, which aims to create a “future-ready” railway system and increase the modal share of rail freight to 45 per cent by 2030.

The Railway Audit Wing will conduct the audit during the 2025–26 financial year, focusing on first-mile and last-mile connectivity, logistics hubs, and origin-destination (O-D) pairs. The audit will examine the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors as well as the Golden Quadrilateral routes, Pandey said.

A pilot study on the subject was completed two months ago, and formal approvals for the full audit are now underway. “We are almost ready with our audit approach. An entry conference with the Chairman of the Railway Board will take place this month to outline our plan and objectives,” Pandey confirmed.

To ensure a comprehensive review, the Railway Audit Wing has held consultations and meetings with major stakeholders, including members of the Railway Board, CMDs and MDs of logistics PSUs, port authorities, freight operators, and terminal operators. The audit will also draw insights from IIM Mumbai, which has been engaged as the knowledge partner.

In addition to the logistics audit, the CAG will conduct an information technology audit of the Indian Railways e-Procurement System (IREPS), which handles procurement across all railway divisions.

A separate audit titled “Sustainable Rail Transport: ESGs and Green Energy” will assess Indian Railways’ progress toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, in line with India’s climate commitments and global sustainability goals.

Pandey said the upcoming audits will not only evaluate financial and operational performance but also measure how effectively Indian Railways is transitioning towards digital integration, environmental sustainability, and efficient logistics management.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) will conduct audits of four major Indian Railways programmes, including suburban services, the e-procurement system, and multimodal logistics initiatives, with findings to be tabled in the Monsoon Session of Parliament in 2026, an official confirmed on Thursday. Additional Deputy CAG Pravir Pandey stated that one of the key focus areas will be the audit of Multi-Modal Transport and Logistics Initiatives under Indian Railways. This audit aligns with the National Rail Plan (NRP) 2030, which aims to create a “future-ready” railway system and increase the modal share of rail freight to 45 per cent by 2030. The Railway Audit Wing will conduct the audit during the 2025–26 financial year, focusing on first-mile and last-mile connectivity, logistics hubs, and origin-destination (O-D) pairs. The audit will examine the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors as well as the Golden Quadrilateral routes, Pandey said. A pilot study on the subject was completed two months ago, and formal approvals for the full audit are now underway. “We are almost ready with our audit approach. An entry conference with the Chairman of the Railway Board will take place this month to outline our plan and objectives,” Pandey confirmed. To ensure a comprehensive review, the Railway Audit Wing has held consultations and meetings with major stakeholders, including members of the Railway Board, CMDs and MDs of logistics PSUs, port authorities, freight operators, and terminal operators. The audit will also draw insights from IIM Mumbai, which has been engaged as the knowledge partner. In addition to the logistics audit, the CAG will conduct an information technology audit of the Indian Railways e-Procurement System (IREPS), which handles procurement across all railway divisions. A separate audit titled “Sustainable Rail Transport: ESGs and Green Energy” will assess Indian Railways’ progress toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, in line with India’s climate commitments and global sustainability goals. Pandey said the upcoming audits will not only evaluate financial and operational performance but also measure how effectively Indian Railways is transitioning towards digital integration, environmental sustainability, and efficient logistics management.

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