05.12.2024 - The Hindu

The Railways (Amendment) Bill intended to amend the Railways Act, 1989

• To enhance the powers of the Railway board

Issues in Railways

• opening up to privatisation
• issue of high prices for Vande Bharat trains
• potentially lead to basic powers of the Railways being diluted and weakened further, inadvertently bringing about unwanted bureaucracy.
• appointments to the Railway Board must not be made on political considerations, but based on merit, skill and established expertise
• employees of the Railways not being provisioned decent space for rest and work.

Suggestions

• consider increasing the number of general coaches on trains and filling appointment backlogs.
• regulating the work hours of loco pilots in order to en-sure they were not overworked.
• government focus on completing projects on time.
• prioritise filling vacancies.

April 2025

The Parliament passes the Railways (amendment) bill, 2025