Reforms modernising railway ecosystem, says senior official
Rapid development of transport infra particularly in Vijayawada division to strengthen regional connectivity has remained the focus area
image for illustrative purpose
Vijayawada: Railway Board Additional Member (Traffic) Devendra Kumar on Sunday said as part of 'Reform Express' Initiative, the Railways implemented 52 reforms in equal number of weeks to modernise the railway ecosystem.
He said rapid development of transport infrastructure particularly in Andhra Pradesh and the Vijayawada division to strengthen regional connectivity has remained the focus area.
He was speaking at the CII Vijayawada Annual Meeting during which a session was organised on Rail-Led Development for Andhra Pradesh.
In his address, Devendra Kumar highlighted the ongoing transformation in Indian Railways aimed at improving passenger travel and freight logistics. He noted that the introduction of next-generation trains such as Vande Bharat, offering fully air-conditioned high-speed travel, and Amrit Bharat trains, designed with a mix of sleeper and general class coaches, is helping cater to a wide range of passenger segments.
He also emphasised that the development, is playing a crucial role in reducing travel time and strengthening regional connectivity and referred to the Reform Express initiative of the Ministry of Railways, inspired by the Prime Minister’s vision to implement 52 reforms in 52 weeks to modernice the railway ecosystem.
He elaborated on the launch of innovation-driven initiatives such as a RailTech innovation portal, which enables startups to collaborate with Indian Railways and access funding opportunities. Stressing the importance of logistics efficiency, he noted that rail transport offers a significant cost advantage at Rs1.96 per ton/km compared to Rs3.78 per ton/km by road and ₹72 per ton/km by air. Under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, Indian Railways aims to handle nearly 45 per cent of the country’s freight movement, supported by integrated logistics systems connecting rail, road, ports, and other transport networks.
Speaking on the occasion Dr V Nagalakshmi, Chairperson, CII Vijayawada stated, an integrated rail – port – industrial ecosystem can position Andhra Pradesh as a leading export gateway for southern and central India. Industrial corridors linked with railway freight terminals can transform Andhra Pradesh into a manufacturing powerhouse of South India. She added, with major ports such as Visakhapatnam, Krishnapatnam, Gangavaram, and Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh has a natural export advantage.
