The Parliamentary Standing Committee has once again urged the Railway Ministry to release zone‑specific plans for boosting freight traffic, especially in areas with limited mineral movement and industrial activity. In its ninth report tabled on 10 August, the committee reiterated its earlier demand for tailored strategies across railway zones.
The report praised efforts to increase network capacity through multitracking, the operationalisation of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs), and modernisation of yards. These initiatives are seen as key to handling more freight trains efficiently.
The ministry’s replies highlighted that it conducts periodic, data‑driven assessments with inputs from Zonal and Divisional Railways and Business Development Units. These studies help shape policy interventions, rationalise freight rates, and design incentive schemes.
The committee wants the railway to institutionalise a structured annual review of freight rates. It should be backed by a detailed analysis of commodity demand, market competition, logistics costs and operational expenditure.
Coal transport remains a priority. The committee praised the provision of rakes and wagons for coal and the facilitation of private investment under the Private Wagon Investment Scheme.
It also asked whether the framework of the National Coal Logistics Plan and Policy should be extended to modernise coal transport across a multimodal network.
The committee requested an update on the Public‑Private Partnership (PPP) policy for rail connectivity and capacity augmentation, which was introduced in 2012 and is currently being revised.
Earlier, in its sixth report, the committee made 12 observations on increasing freight earnings and developing DFCs. The ninth report now includes the ministry’s action taken notes on those observations.
The ministry reported that the average number of freight trains per day rose from 4,968 in 2021‑22 to 6,789 in 2024‑25. This growth reflects improved capacity and operational efficiency.
It also said it is strengthening feeder routes and making operational improvements to ensure smooth freight movement between major industrial hubs and the DFC network. The aim is to raise the average speed of freight trains from 37 kmph in 2024‑25.
A major concern highlighted by the committee is the shortage of crew, which causes delays and hampers throughput on the DFC network. The committee urged urgent measures to resolve this issue.
One of its recommendations stresses that Indian Railways must take effective steps to secure enough crew for smooth operation on the DFC network.
In its action taken, the ministry announced 28,769 vacancies for Assistant Loco Pilots (ALPs) and 6,560 vacancies for Goods Train Managers for 2024 and 2025.
It also noted that 18,799 ALP vacancies were advertised in 2024 and a substantial number of ALPs have already been selected. Despite this, the shortage of crew remains a critical issue that needs immediate attention.