The Narendra Modi government has created 5.02 lakh railway jobs between 2014 and 2024, according to recent data presented by the Indian Railways in Parliament. This information was disclosed in response to a query from MP Fauzia Khan of the Sharad Pawar faction.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav highlighted that the previous UPA government, which was in power from 2004 to 2014, generated 4.11 lakh jobs, indicating that the current administration has surpassed this figure. Vaishnav detailed that from August 2022 to October 2022, over 1.1 crore candidates applied for the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) exams, with 1,30,581 candidates successfully hired. The Minister assured that the recruitment process was free from issues such as paper leakage, with the majority of new hires filling safety-related roles.
On the safety front, Vaishnav reported a significant reduction in consequential accidents on the railways, from 118 in 2013-14 to 40 in 2023-24. This improvement is part of the broader safety measures undertaken by the current administration.
In response to another query, the Railway Ministry disclosed figures comparing accident statistics. From 2004 to 2014, there were 1,711 consequential accidents resulting in 904 deaths. In contrast, during the NDA’s decade in power, there were 678 accidents with 748 fatalities. Despite a 60 percent reduction in the number of accidents, fatalities have decreased by only 17 percent.
The Railway Ministry has underscored its commitment to safety by significantly increasing its spending on safety measures. The budget for safety-related initiatives has risen from ₹87,736 crore in 2022-23 to ₹1,08,795 crore for 2024-25. Additionally, over 9,572 coaches have been equipped with CCTV cameras to enhance security.
In a related development, Indian Railways has introduced trial baby berths in two lower berths of a Lucknow Mail coach. These berths are designed to make travel more convenient for mothers traveling with infants. Initial feedback has been favorable, although passengers have noted some inconvenience due to the limited luggage space under the seat.
