Cleaning to Cover General Coaches in Running Trains; Over 500 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals Planned

New Delhi:  Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday announced two major reforms approved by Indian Railways under its 2026 commitment of “52 Improvements in 52 Weeks.” He stated that reforms are not one-time measures but a continuous process.

The Minister noted that the impact of ongoing reforms is visible, with Indian Railways emerging as the world’s second-largest freight carrier and witnessing the introduction of next-generation trains and new operational practices.

### Cleaning to Include General Coaches

Explaining the first reform, Vaishnaw said that beginning in 2026, Indian Railways will ensure comprehensive cleaning of trains, particularly long-distance services. Until now, cleaning services were largely limited to reserved coaches. For the first time in railway history, general (unreserved) coaches will also be fully integrated into the cleaning system.

In addition to cleanliness, onboard staff capable of handling minor mechanical and electrical repairs will be deployed to provide integrated onboard services. Monitoring mechanisms will also ensure clean and hygienic linen in trains.

### Major Expansion of Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals

The second reform builds upon the Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal (GCT) policy launched in 2022, which significantly simplified the approval process for cargo terminals. Projects that previously took up to six years for approval are now being cleared in about three months, with streamlined engineering, signaling, and electrical plan approvals.

So far, 124 multi-modal cargo terminals have been developed under the policy, with an estimated capacity of around 200 million tonnes of traffic and annual revenue potential of approximately ₹20,000 crore.

Following three years of experience and four months of stakeholder consultations, a significantly upgraded reform has now been approved. Over the next five years, the number of Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals is expected to increase from 124 to more than 500.

A key enhancement is the integration of processing facilities within cargo terminals, transforming them into “cargo plus processing” hubs. For example, cement clinker can now be transported to a GCT, ground into cement within the terminal, and then bagged or dispatched through ready-mix concrete vehicles. Similarly, grain processing, loading, unloading, and other value-added activities can be carried out within terminal premises, eliminating the need for off-site processing and attracting additional freight traffic.

Under the new framework:

* Underutilized goods sheds will be converted into GCTs and cargo facilities.
* Older sidings developed under previous policies can migrate to the simplified GCT framework.
* Railways will optionally maintain short connecting track segments and electrical systems on a payment basis, improving safety and clarifying maintenance responsibilities.
* Expanded shared-user facilities, including Y-connections and rail-over-rail structures, will be permitted.
* Multi-GCT connectivity has been formalized to prevent disputes and litigation.
* A dispute resolution mechanism has been introduced, including milestone-based joint meetings and issuance of “dispute-free certificates.”
* Standard layouts have been incorporated into policy, with automatic approvals for applicants adopting standard designs.
* The concession period for GCTs and freight-related facilities has been extended from 35 to 50 years to encourage long-term investment.

The Minister estimated that these reforms could generate an additional ₹30,000 crore in revenue over three years through improved freight performance. Citing the cement transportation reform launched in November–December, he noted that bulk cement movement has more than doubled, reaching nearly 95,000 tonnes in January compared to around 40,000 tonnes last year. Rail-based bulk cement transport has significantly reduced costs—by up to 30% in Jammu & Kashmir and nearly half in Mizoram—while also lowering pollution through scientific transport methods.

### More Reforms Ahead

Vaishnaw further stated that seven additional reforms are underway, with two to be unveiled this month and three more in early March. Work has also begun on 30–40 other reforms. With structural improvements in passenger services and freight operations, Indian Railways is embarking on an ambitious year-long transformation agenda.