Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw charts an ambitious course for the cargo sector, envisioning substantial annual savings of Rs 1.28 lakh crore by 2031. The vision relies on the seamless transportation of an extra 1500 million tonnes of cargo via trains.
Speaking at the 68th National Railways Awards, Vaishnaw highlights the imminent surge in India’s economic growth, anticipating an additional 3000 million tonnes of cargo movement within the country by 2031.
Central to this transformative agenda is Indian Railways, eyeing to capture half of the incremental cargo growth. This strategic move would significantly reduce 16,000 crore litres of diesel consumption annually, translating to the targeted Rs 1.28 lakh crore savings for India.
Despite achieving a record 1512 million tonnes of cargo in the fiscal year 2022-23, Indian Railways constitutes less than 30 percent of the country’s total cargo movement, with road transportation dominating.
Vaishnaw emphasises the ongoing infrastructure developments, embracing advanced technologies like Vande Bharat and the upcoming Amrit Bharat. He stresses the imperative to eliminate colonial-era thinking within the railway system for a progressive and efficient cargo movement landscape.
Recognising outstanding contributions, Vaishnaw acknowledges 100 Railway employees at the event and anticipates India’s ascent to a top-three global economy by 2027, urging a paradigm shift towards a cargo-centric future.
