In the first budget presentation of Modi 3.0, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman briefly mentioned the railways, but the sector received significant post-budget attention. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a major initiative to produce 2,500 non-AC coaches, with an additional 10,000 planned over the next three years. This effort aims to provide affordable and safe travel options for middle-class and low-income families, offering world-class facilities at approximately Rs 450 per 1,000 kilometers.

Vaishnaw, in an interview with NDTV, highlighted a substantial increase in capital expenditure for Indian Railway, which has grown from Rs 35,000 crore before 2014 to an unprecedented Rs 2.62 lakh crore today. He expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and Finance Minister for their support in achieving this record investment. Vaishnaw contrasted the current government’s focus on building proper foundational infrastructure with the previous 60 years of populist measures that often ignored the rail network’s capacity constraints.

Increasing Demand for Non-AC Travel

Despite recent emphasis on launching Vande Bharat trains, Vaishnaw assured a balanced approach to meet the needs of both low-income and aspirational segments. He pointed out that the traditional ratio of AC to non-AC coaches has been 1/3 to 2/3, a balance that is being maintained. Noting a rise in demand for non-AC travel, Vaishnaw announced a special campaign to build 2,500 non-AC coaches immediately, with plans to produce 10,000 more over the next three years.

This initiative underscores Indian Railways’ commitment to providing cost-effective travel solutions without compromising on quality, catering to the growing number of passengers opting for non-AC travel options.