Last Updated on April 4, 2026 12:56 am by INDIAN AWAAZ
BISHESHWAR MISHRA / NEW DELHI
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Friday stressed that providing a better travel experience to the poor and middle class remains the top priority of Indian Railways. He called upon officials to work collectively towards this goal and congratulated the Railway workforce for its commendable performance last year.
Mr Vaishnaw was chairing a review meeting with railway officials in New Delhi. The Minister highlighted that a historic reduction in rail accidents and record freight loading have significantly improved the Railways’ image. He also appreciated the operation of special trains during festivals and efforts to maintain punctuality above 85 percent in several zones. By emphasizing passenger experience, he said railway stations must remain clean and well-maintained and urged optimal use of funds for modernization.
He also stressed smooth crowd management during peak travel periods. During the meeting, the issue of pending land acquisition for ongoing railway projects was discussed. The Minister directed officials to expedite the process and, if required, seek the expertise of experienced retired officers of state revenue and forest departments to overcome bottlenecks. Mr Vaishnaw also directed officials to expedite land acquisition for projects and adopt a humane approach towards people living near tracks. He advocated the construction of user-friendly underpasses to improve accessibility and safety. He also said that priority should be given to convenient and accessible underpasses over foot overbridges for crossing railway tracks, both within station premises and outside.