Indian Railways to Revamp Wagon Design Policy to Boost Freight Traffic
New Delhi, June 25 (TNT): Indian Railways has decided to undertake comprehensive reforms in its Wagon Design Policy to encourage greater freight movement through rail and make it the preferred mode of transport for a wider range of commodities.
The decision was taken during a review meeting chaired by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw with senior railway officials on Thursday.
Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna and Ravneet Singh Bittu, Director General of the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), Railway Board members and other senior officials attended the meeting.
The proposed reforms are aimed at facilitating the development of commodity-specific wagons tailored to the loading, unloading, handling and transportation requirements of different industries.
According to the Ministry of Railways, extensive consultations have been held with industries, trade bodies and major freight customers, who suggested that customised wagon designs would significantly enhance the attractiveness of rail transport for various commodities.
Officials noted that specialised wagons developed for commodities such as cement and salt have already demonstrated improved operational efficiency and increased adoption of rail logistics.
In view of the positive response, Indian Railways has decided to finalise a new Wagon Design Policy within 15 days to provide an industry-friendly framework for the development of specialised wagons.
Under the proposed policy, industries will be allowed to design wagons according to their specific operational requirements.
For example, steel coil transportation requires specialised securing arrangements and dedicated loading and unloading systems, while other commodities have distinct handling needs.
The Railway Ministry said industries would be empowered to propose modifications in wagon designs, while responsibility for safety certification and approval would remain with RDSO and the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS).
Addressing the meeting, Vaishnaw said strict standards for design approval and prototype development would ensure the manufacture of high-quality wagons while promoting innovation and customer-oriented solutions.
The Ministry said the reforms are expected to attract new industries to the railway freight ecosystem, improve customer convenience and increase rail’s share in the national logistics sector.
The initiative is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of increasing freight transportation through rail, which is considered a greener and more energy-efficient mode compared to road transport.
With Indian Railways nearing 100 per cent electrification, increased rail-based freight movement is expected to reduce dependence on imported diesel, lower logistics costs, cut carbon emissions and support environmental sustainability.
The Ministry said the proposed Wagon Design Policy represents another major step towards building a modern, innovation-driven and customer-centric freight transportation system while contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat.
TNT KS
