Freight movement via rail to be raised 1.6 times: Draft National Rail Plan

The plan also targets confirmed tickets for all passengers and elimination of waiting lists

The Ministry of Railways plans to transport 45 per cent of the country’s freight by 2030, a 1.6 times increase over 27 per cent currently. This is part of the draft National Rail Plan.

After 2030, the Indian Railways aims to have a revenue surplus that would be adequate to finance future investments and also repay debt obligations of past investments.

“Exchequer funding of rail projects would not be required,” the Railways said in a press statement.

So far this year, passenger earnings are down 87 per cent from last year as the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted railway services in March, even as freight