Indian Railways in 2025: Expansion Achieved, Challenges Ahead

Indian Railways Latest News

• 2025 marked a landmark year for Indian Railways, as it completed rail connectivity to Kashmir Valley and Aizawl (Mizoram), bridged major geographic frontiers, advanced freight corridors and technology.
• At the same time, the Railways faced challenges in safety, crowd management, and financial sustainability.

From Kashmir to Mizoram: Railways Reach India’s Final Frontiers

• In 2025, Indian Railways achieved historic milestones by extending the rail grid to: Kashmir Valley in the North; Aizawl in the East.
• These connections brought the country’s last major unlinked regions into the national railway network, symbolising territorial integration and strategic connectivity.

Kashmir Rail Link: A Century-Old Dream Realised

• The idea of a railway line to the Kashmir Valley dates back to 1898, when Maharaja Pratap Singh first conceived it. 
• However, after Partition, the Jammu–Sialkot rail link went to Pakistan, cutting off Jammu and Kashmir from India’s rail grid.
• While Jammu was connected by rail in 1972, the Valley remained unlinked. 
• The long-cherished dream was realised in June 2025, when PM Modi inaugurated the final 63-km Katra–Sangaldan section of the 272-km Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL). 
  • A Vande Bharat train began services between Katra and Srinagar.
• The project’s most challenging stretch was the 111-km Katra–Banihal section, featuring:
  • T-50, India’s longest operational transport tunnel (12.77 km)
  • Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge (359 metres above the riverbed)
  • Anji Bridge, Indian Railways’ first cable-stayed bridge

Mizoram: Railways Overcome Geography

• Mizoram’s late rail arrival was largely due to its difficult terrain and landlocked location—bordering Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern states. 
• Until recently, the state depended almost entirely on roads for passenger and freight movement.
• The breakthrough came with the inauguration of the Bairabi–Sairang line in September 2025, linking Bairabi to Sairang, near Aizawl. 
• This marked the first-ever rail connectivity to the Mizoram capital.
• With this, Aizawl became the fourth northeastern capital—after Guwahati (Dispur), Agartala, and Itanagar—to be linked to the Indian Railways network.

Pamban Bridge: Reconnecting South India’s Maritime Edge

• Another landmark in 2025 was the inauguration of the 2.08-km new Pamban Bridge, replacing the 110-year-old cantilever bridge. 
• It is India’s first vertical-lift railway sea bridge. It connects Rameswaram to the mainland across the Palk Strait.

Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC)

• First rail car ran on the 102-km Vaitarna–Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) section. 
• Marks progress in India’s high-capacity, freight-only rail infrastructure.

Strategic Himalayan Connectivity

• Rishikesh–Karnaprayag Line

• • 125 km line with strategic and pilgrimage significance
  • Includes India’s longest transportation tunnel (14.57 km) (yet to be operational)
  • Serves as a gateway to the China border and boosts Char Dham Yatra connectivity

• Bhanupalli–Bilaspur–Beri Line

• • Connects Punjab to Himachal Pradesh
  • Proposed extension up to Ladakh
  • Progress delayed due to financial disputes between the state government and Railways

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A Year Shadowed by Safety Concerns

• The year began with tragedy:
  • Stampede at New Delhi Railway Station (February 15, 2025)
  • 18 deaths, 15 injuries, during rush for Prayagraj-bound Mahakumbh trains

• Railways’ Response

• • Launch of a nationwide project to create holding areas on high-passenger platforms
  • Renewed emphasis on crowd management and passenger safety

Challenges in Freight Loading: Railways’ Revenue Backbone Under Strain

• Freight transport is the financial backbone of Indian Railways, contributing nearly 65% of its total earnings. 
• However, despite its importance, the system faces persistent challenges, especially in last-mile delivery and competitiveness with road transport.

High Dependence on Bulk Commodities

• Indian Railways remains predominantly a bulk commodity transporter.
• Coal alone accounts for nearly 50% of total freight loading.
  • Seven major commodities—coal, pig iron and steel, iron ore, cement, fertilisers, petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL), and containers—together accounted for 87.3% of total freight loading (in FY 25)
• Such heavy reliance exposes Railways to demand fluctuations in a few sectors.

Concerns Raised by the Standing Committee on Railways

• The Standing Committee on Railways has flagged structural risks in the freight basket:
  • Called for diversification into automobiles, FMCG, and e-commerce to cushion demand volatility.
  • Noted that year-on-year revenue growth from coal and iron ore is slowing, raising sustainability concerns.

Need to Raise Rail’s Modal Share

• Railways’ modal share in freight transport stands at about 27%, significantly lower than road transport. 
• Enhancing this share is critical for revenue growth and environmental gains.

Operational Focus Areas in 2025

• Indian Railways prioritised:
  • Removal of traffic bottlenecks
  • Track expansion and capacity augmentation
  • Passenger amenities under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
  • Safety upgrades across high-density routes

Ambitious Traffic and Freight Targets

• With expanded infrastructure, Railways aims to achieve by 2030:
  • 3 billion tonnes of freight loading – Up from 1.6 billion tonnes in FY25
  • 10 billion passengers annually – A 42% increase from nearly 7 billion passengers in FY25
• These targets reflect Railways’ central role in India’s logistics and mobility strategy.

Technological Advancements

• Commissioning of Kavach 4.0 (advanced Automatic Train Protection system)
• Deployed over 738 route kilometres on two high-density corridors
• Rollout of: 13 Amrit Bharat trains for migrant workers; 2 Namo Bharat Rapid Rail Services for intercity commuters.
• Trials of Vande Bharat sleeper trains, signalling next-generation long-distance travel.

Financial Stress vs Green Promise

• Persistent Challenges – High revenue expenditure; Low earnings per route, affecting long-term financial health
• Green Mobility Advantage
  • Despite financial strain, Railways remains one of India’s cleanest transport modes:
    • Accounts for only ~1% of transport emissions
    • Near-100% electrification of broad-gauge network
    • Hydrogen-powered trains under development
    • 2,626 solar-powered stations
    • 898 MW of solar power used nationwide
    • ~70% used for traction

Source: IE | PIB