Indian Railways has rolled out the first two key reforms under its forward-looking initiatives announced on Saturday, aimed at enhancing passenger comfort and strengthening rail-based freight movement across the country. The reforms focus on improving on-board services to ensure a cleaner travel experience and promoting seamless multi-modal logistics through the expansion of Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs).
Reform 1: Cleaner, accountable on-board services
The first reform seeks to prioritise a clean and hygienic travel environment while establishing clear responsibility and accountability for service providers deployed on trains.
Railways said the initiative aims to engage professional and proactive agencies that exceed customer expectations, while leveraging technology for monitoring, feedback and performance management.
A key feature of the reform is the integrated cleaning, linen and petty repairs model, under which multi-tasking and cross-skilled staff will serve as the primary passenger interface. Leading service providers with proven track records will be engaged, and real-time monitoring systems will be used to track performance.
The model also allows flexibility in deploying route-specific teams, particularly for long-distance trains. The implementation will be carried out in phases over two years, with periodic reviews.
The scope covers all coaches, including general coaches, with attention to toilets, wash basins and garbage collection. Minor repairs, coordination for water filling and checking of safety equipment will also be included. Trained supervisors and service staff will oversee operations.
In the initial phase, 80 long-distance trains across various railway zones have been brought under the new framework.
Reform 2: Strengthening freight through Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals
The second reform focuses on enhancing rail-based logistics by expanding cargo infrastructure under the Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal Policy 2022.
The policy introduced clear timelines for approval of terminals, eliminated staff charges for GCT operators and allowed terminals to be set up on railway land. It also enabled development of common user facilities at railway cost and simplified the approval process for operators.
Over the past three years, 124 multi-modal cargo terminals have been developed across 18 states and Union Territories, with a traffic potential of around 200 million tonnes per year and estimated revenue generation of nearly Rs 20,000 crore.
Under the updated framework, cargo-related facilities such as warehouses, grinding units, processing and aggregation centres can be developed on spare railway land. Underutilised goodsheds can also be converted into GCTs.
The policy further simplifies migration of private freight terminals and sidings to the GCT model, expands the definition of common user facilities to include Y-connections and rail-over-rail infrastructure, and lays down a clear methodology for multi-GCT connectivity.
Standard terminal layouts have been incorporated into the policy, while a simplified dispute resolution mechanism has been introduced with delegated powers to divisional railway managers (DRMs). Long-term contracts of up to 50 years will be granted for GCT and cargo-related facilities.
Railways said the reforms are expected to transform India’s freight landscape by strengthening integration between rail and other modes of transport, reducing logistics costs and generating substantial revenue through enhanced cargo handling.
The initiatives underline Indian Railways’ commitment to modernising infrastructure and services for the benefit of passengers and the broader economy.