Modi Administration Creates 91,000 Additional Railway Jobs in 10 Years, Surpassing UPA’s Record

New Delhi:

The Narendra Modi administration has generated 5.02 lakh railway positions between 2014 and 2024, as per figures presented by the Indian Railways in Parliament.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav highlighted that the UPA government (2004-2014) established 4.11 lakh positions, a lower number than the current administration. This information was disclosed in response to queries from MP Fauzia Khan of the Sharad Pawar group.

About job creation, Ashwini Vaishnav mentioned that from August 2022 to October 2022, more than 1.1 crore candidates appeared for the RRB exams. Out of these, 1,30,581 candidates were recruited by the railways. The minister guaranteed that there were no instances of paper leaks or similar problems during this process, with most new hires occupying safety-related roles.

Regarding safety, the Union Minister observed a reduction in significant accidents from 118 in 2013-14 to 40 in 2023-24.

In response to another question, the Rail Ministry documented 1,711 significant accidents from 2004-2014, resulting in 904 fatalities. In the NDA’s 10-year term, there were 678 accidents with 748 deaths. While accidents have decreased by 60 percent, fatalities have only decreased by 17 percent.

The Rail Ministry underlined that safety remains a top priority, with expenditure on safety measures rising from Rs 87,736 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 1,08,795 crore in 2024-25. Over 9,572 coaches have been equipped with CCTV cameras so far.

Baby Sleeping Areas in Trains

In addition, Indian Railways has tested two baby sleeping areas attached to two lower berths in a Lucknow Mail carriage to facilitate travel for mothers with infants.

Initial feedback from passengers has been favorable, although the limited luggage space under the seat has caused some inconvenience.