Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express (20 Coaches) Flagged Off, Services Start May 2

Railway Board Orders Dedicated Inquiry Teams for Faster Train Accident Probe, Safety Budget at ₹1.20 Lakh Crore

The Railway Board has mandated dedicated inquiry locations near accident sites to expedite probe completion, addressing systemic delays. With safety spending rising to ₹1.20 lakh crore and train accidents declining sharply (only 2 in FY 2026-27), this move signals a shift towards accountability and data-driven safety management.

CAG Flags E. coli Contamination in Drinking Water at 8 Railway Stations, Violates Water Quality Protocol

CAG's audit of Indian Railways' passenger amenities has revealed E. coli contamination in drinking water at 8 stations, exposing serious lapses in water quality testing and violation of the Uniform Drinking Water Quality Protocol. This report underscores failures in public health infrastructure and accountability of railway authorities.

₹9,450 Cr Railway Multitracking Approved Under PM Gati Shakti for 4 States

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved four railway multitracking projects across eight districts in West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh at a total cost of ₹9,450 crore. Expected to be completed by 2030-31, these projects will add about 410 km of track capacity, boost freight movement by 76 million tonnes per annum, and improve connectivity to key tourist destinations under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

SCR Celebrates 60 Years: Kavach First Tested, DigiPay & Unmanned Crossing Elimination Achieved

South Central Railway (SCR) marks 60 years of transformation from Nizam-era narrow gauge to modern LHB trains and Kavach auto-protection system. Key milestones include first testing of India's indigenous train protection system (Kavach), elimination of all unmanned level crossings by 2018, and 100% LED-lit stations. With 93% electrification and 454 daily trains, SCR is a model zone for technological and safety upgrades.

CCEA Approves 8 Railway Multi-Tracking Projects Worth ₹20,804 Cr Under PM Gati Shakti

CCEA approved eight railway multi-tracking projects costing ₹20,804 crore across nine states, adding 1,196 km to the Indian Railways network. The projects are planned under PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and will generate additional freight capacity of 74 MTPA. For exams, remember the split: first five projects cover TN, AP, Karnataka and Telangana; the other three cover WB, Jharkhand, Odisha, MP and Chhattisgarh.

CAG Report 2026: Only 11% Railway Stations Have All Basic Amenities, E. coli Found in Drinking Water

CAG's audit of railway stations (2019-24) reveals that only 11% of 512 inspected stations have all Minimum Essential Amenities (MEA). E. coli bacteria were found in water coolers at major stations, 89% stations lack one or more basic facilities, and funds were underutilized despite rising passenger complaints. The report was tabled in Parliament on August 12, 2026.

Indian Railways Upgrades 40-Year-Old PRS: 1.5 Lakh Bookings/Min, Cloud-Enabled, Multilingual

Indian Railways has begun a phased upgrade of its 40-year-old Passenger Reservation System (PRS), developed by CRIS. The new system aims to handle 1.5 lakh bookings per minute (up from 32,000) and 40 lakh enquiries per minute, featuring a cloud-enabled, multilingual interface to meet growing digital demand.

WDFC Fully Operational: 2,843 km DFC Network Transforms India’s Logistics Under PM GatiShakti

The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) is now fully operational, completing India’s 2,843-km freight backbone. Combined with the Eastern DFC, this structural transformation is expected to slash logistics costs, boost manufacturing, and integrate ports under the PM GatiShakti and Sagarmala frameworks. For UPSC/SSC aspirants, this is a critical Mains topic linking infrastructure, economy, and planning.