Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Unveils Eight More Structural Reforms under ‘Reform Express’ to Strengthen India's Freight Operations

The Railway Ministry, through Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced eight additional structural reforms under the ‘Reform Express’ programme, bringing the total to 17. The reforms target freight operations and include: (1) containerised transport of fly ash using ISO‑standard containers to eliminate dust pollution; (2) a unified Pan‑India licence for container‑train operators with a single ₹25 crore registration fee; (3) simplification of fertilizer freight charges to a per‑tonne‑per‑kilometre tariff and allowance for containerised movement; (4) a new policy for skilling and certifying railway artisans; (5) construction‑related reforms such as upfront performance security, stricter eligibility and insurance requirements; (6) a policy allowing private firms to design and induct specialised petroleum tank wagons; (7) a simplified per‑tonne‑per‑kilometre rate for food‑grain, flour and pulses with containerisation; and (8) measures to improve land‑hand‑over via the Rail Bhoomi portal. The reforms aim to boost logistics efficiency, attract private investment, reduce road‑to‑rail freight shift costs and lower environmental impact.