The ministry of railways is stepping up efforts to modernise one of the world’s largest and most complex rail networks under its ambitious Mission Raftaar programme. Spanning more than 68,000 kilometres and ferrying millions of passengers each day, Indian Railways forms the backbone of the nation’s transportation infrastructure. In FY26, the transporter’s priorities include removing speed restrictions, renewing track infrastructure, and installing fencing along vulnerable rail lines to enhance safety and efficiency.
Despite its vastness, the Indian Railways continues to grapple with ageing infrastructure, operational inefficiencies, and safety challenges. To address these, the government is charting a strategic overhaul designed to make the network faster, safer, and more globally competitive.
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What is Mission Raftaar
Unveiled in the Railway Budget for 2016–17, Mission Raftaar seeks to increase the average speed of freight and mail/express trains. It is important to note that Raftaar is not a centrally sponsored scheme or project—rather, it is a mission-driven framework, making it difficult to quantify its state-wise financial outlays or specific train allocations.
Still, several initiatives are underway to meet the mission’s long-term objectives. These include the construction of bypasses and rail flyovers, third and fourth line additions, conversion of loco-hauled trains into MEMUs, rationalisation of timetables, and enhancement of the electrical traction system from 1×25 kV to 2×25 kV.
Under the delayed programme, the ministry has set targets to increase average speeds to 75 km/h for mail and express trains, and to 50 km/h for freight trains. However, ecological factors and frequent cattle intrusions on tracks pose additional hurdles to achieving these targets.
To unlock the full potential of new-generation trains like Vande Bharat, which are capable of reaching speeds above 160 km/h, Indian Railways plans to make 3,700 km of track fit for speeds exceeding 130 km/h. For FY25, the goal is to upgrade 2,040 route kilometres, building on the nearly 2,400 km upgraded in FY24—a significant scale-up in just one year.
Track renewal is another critical area of focus. A total of 7,900 km of tracks are slated for renewal in FY26 to enhance safety and ride quality. The ministry is also addressing 208 permanent speed restrictions (PSRs), while relaxing around 80 more. These PSRs, often imposed at sharp curves, busy pedestrian zones, or locations with structural limitations, have long contributed to congestion and slow operations. A 2023 review revealed a counterproductive trend: for every speed restriction removed, three new ones were added.
Towards a world class railway system
A recent statement by the Press Information Bureau highlighted the government’s vision of delivering fast, safe, and affordable rail travel to a geographically and socioeconomically diverse population. Yet, the road to transformation is steep and demands a comprehensive modernisation strategy.
The path to world-class standards begins with infrastructure. Accelerating the upgrade of tracks, rolling stock, and stations is imperative. Expanding high-speed rail corridors—like the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train—to key economic centres such as Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kolkata could redefine long-distance travel. Scaling up dedicated freight corridors would relieve pressure on passenger services while improving logistics efficiency.
Station redevelopment is another area demanding urgent attention. The world’s leading railway systems feature smart stations equipped with digital ticketing, free Wi-Fi, clean amenities, and universal accessibility. While India has initiated work in this direction, widespread transformation remains a distant reality.
Safety remains a pressing concern. Frequent derailments and accidents point to systemic vulnerabilities. The nationwide deployment of Kavach, India’s indigenous Automatic Train Protection system, must be expedited to prevent collisions and ensure operational safety. The use of drone surveillance and automated systems for track inspections can help pre-empt failures.
Indian railways: The need for transparency
Despite its public service mandate, Indian Railways discontinued the release of monthly data on key operational indicators like train speeds in 2023. This decision has drawn criticism from experts who argue that transparency is a prerequisite for accountability and reform. A parliamentary standing committee report recently highlighted that the average speed of freight trains has stagnated at around 25 km/h for over a decade.
If Indian Railways is serious about becoming a future-ready institution, it must embrace openness and constructive feedback. Transparency, far from being a liability, can become a catalyst for innovation and trust.
Transforming Indian Railways is not just an infrastructure upgrade—it is a nation-building project. The scale of investment, institutional coordination, and long-term planning required is enormous. Yet, if implemented effectively, the dividends will be equally substantial: improved connectivity, reduced carbon emissions, better freight efficiency, and enhanced economic competitiveness.
Mission Raftaar may have missed its original deadlines, but its renewed focus presents a timely opportunity to steer Indian Railways into the 21st century.