Ashwini Vaishnaw Unveils Two Major Rail Reforms for 2026

Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, today announced two major reforms approved under Indian Railways' ambitious resolve to undertake "52 reforms in 52 weeks" during 2026.

Stressing that reforms are not one-time events but a continuous process, the Minister said Indian Railways is already witnessing visible impact, having emerged as the world's second-largest cargo carrier, alongside the introduction of new-generation trains and modern operational practices.

Reform 1: End-to-End Continuous Cleaning for Better Passenger Experience

The first reform focuses on significantly improving onboard cleanliness, especially in long-distance trains.

Shri Vaishnaw said that under the existing mechanism, cleaning was largely restricted to reserved coaches. For the first time in railway history, cleaning of general coaches will now be fully integrated into the system, ensuring uniform standards across all passenger classes.

The earlier "Clean Train Station" model — where deep cleaning occurred only at select stations — will now be replaced with a continuous cleaning approach from origin to destination.

Key features include:

• Continuous toilet cleaning and garbage removal

• Regular cleaning of cabin interiors and water availability checks

• Immediate rectification of minor electrical and mechanical defects, such as faulty lights

• Linen distribution, collection and cleaning integrated under a single agency instead of multiple contractors

• Deployment of staff from reserved coaches into general coaches at designated stations to maintain equivalent hygiene standards

AI Monitoring and War Room Control Centres

A major innovation under this reform is the establishment of war room control centres, where AI-generated images of cleaning activities will be monitored and analysed.

AI-based assessment will verify cleaning quality in real time, and strict action will be taken in case of lapses.

Route-specific multi-tasking teams will also be created, capable of handling minor repairs alongside cleaning services, enabling integrated onboard service delivery.

Rollout Plan: 80 Trains Identified in Phase One

In consultation with Zonal Railways, around 4–5 trains per zone have been identified for the first phase, primarily long-distance and high footfall trains.

• 80 trains have already been selected across zones

• Full implementation across all trains will be completed over the next three years

Professional cleaning teams will be hired through Service Level Agreements, with cleaning frequency adjusted for peak and non-peak travel hours.

Reform 2: Expansion of Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals into Processing Hubs

The second reform builds on the Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal (GCT) Policy introduced in 2022, which simplified cargo terminal approvals.

Shri Vaishnaw noted that approvals that earlier took nearly six years are now being completed in about three months. As a result:

• 124 multi-modal cargo terminals have already been developed

• Estimated traffic potential: 200 million tonnes

• Revenue potential: ₹20,000 crore annually

Target: Over 500 Cargo Terminals in Five Years

After extensive stakeholder consultations and three years of experience, a substantially enhanced policy reform has now been approved.

With this, existing terminals are expected to increase from 124 to more than 500 in the next five years.

"Cargo Plus Processing" Terminals: A Game-Changer

The biggest addition is the integration of processing activities within cargo terminals, transforming them into "cargo plus processing" hubs.

Examples include:

• Cement clinker transported to terminals can be ground, bagged and dispatched directly

• Food grain processing, stuffing and destuffing can occur within terminal premises

• Value addition at terminals eliminates extra logistics steps and attracts more cargo to Railways

Upgrading Goods Sheds and Migrating Legacy Sidings

The reform also enables:

• Underutilized goods sheds to be redeveloped as cargo terminals

• Legacy sidings to migrate into the simplified GCT framework

• Railways to optionally maintain short connecting stretches on a payment basis, improving safety

Dispute Prevention and Standardized Approvals

To avoid litigation and disputes, the reform introduces:

• Multi-GCT connectivity norms ensuring access cannot be denied

• Monthly or milestone-based joint meetings and "no dispute certificates"

• Standard layouts with automatic approvals for applicants adopting predefined designs

Contract tenure for cargo terminals has also been extended from 35 years to 50 years, supporting long-term investment and ecosystem growth.

Revenue Potential: ₹30,000 Crore Boost in Three Years

The Minister estimated that the enhanced cargo terminal reforms could generate around ₹30,000 crore in additional revenue over the next three years.

He cited bulk cement transportation reforms as an example:

• Cement tonnage doubled from ~40,000 tonnes last year to ~95,000 tonnes in January

• Cost reductions up to 30% in Jammu & Kashmir

• Nearly 50% cost reduction in Mizoram

• Reduced pollution through scientific bulk transport

More Reforms on the Way

Shri Vaishnaw said seven more reforms are already underway:

• Two reforms will be unveiled this month

• Three more in early March

• Work initiated on another 30–40 reforms

With major structural reforms in passenger services and freight logistics, Indian Railways has begun an ambitious year-long transformation agenda aimed at improving customer experience, boosting efficiency and expanding freight capacity.