Railways To Roll Out 52 Reforms In 52 Weeks

12 Jan 2026 CW Team

The Ministry of Railways on Thursday announced a major reform drive to implement 52 key measures over 52 weeks across the country, signalling a renewed push to improve governance, efficiency and service delivery in the rail sector.

The announcement was made at a high-level meeting chaired by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, attended by senior officials and Ministers of State in the ministry. Vaishnaw said the initiative is designed to bring systemic improvements, with a strong focus on safety, operational efficiency and passenger experience.

A key priority under the programme will be further reducing consequential train accidents, which have already fallen by nearly 90 per cent, from 135 in 2014–15 to 11 in 2025–26. The ministry now aims to bring the number down to a single digit.

The reform agenda also includes faster adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies for safety, maintenance and train operations. Talent management, employee skill development and improvements in onboard catering services are among the other measures planned under the initiative.

During the meeting, officials reviewed progress on infrastructure development, maintenance and capacity enhancement works. According to a Railway Ministry statement, ministers and senior officials shared their on-ground experiences and reaffirmed their commitment to technological advancement, improved safety standards and passenger-centric growth.

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12 Jan 2026

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