Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government has significantly boosted employment within Indian Railways, creating 5.02 lakh jobs between 2014 and 2024, according to data presented in Parliament. This marks an increase of 91,000 jobs compared to the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, which generated 4.11 lakh jobs from 2004 to 2014.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav shared these figures in response to questions from MP Fauzia Khan of the Sharad Pawar faction. Vaishnav highlighted the recruitment process, noting that between August 2022 and October 2022, over 1.1 crore candidates took the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) exams. Out of these, 1,30,581 candidates were hired, primarily for safety-related positions. He assured that there were no instances of paper leakage or other issues during the recruitment process.
In terms of safety, the Union Minister reported a significant decline in consequential accidents, which fell from 118 in 2013-14 to 40 in 2023-24. Additionally, data from the Railway Ministry showed that between 2004 and 2014, there were 1,711 consequential accidents resulting in 904 deaths. Under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, the number of accidents dropped by 60 percent to 678, with fatalities decreasing by 17 percent to 748.
The Railway Ministry stressed that safety remains a top priority, with budget allocations for safety measures increasing from Rs 87,736 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 1,08,795 crore in 2024-25. To enhance passenger security, over 9,572 coaches have been equipped with CCTV cameras.
Indian Railways has also initiated trials for baby berths in trains to facilitate easier travel for mothers with infants. Two baby berths have been attached to two lower berths in a coach of the Lucknow Mail. While initial feedback from passengers has been positive, some have reported inconvenience due to limited luggage space under the seats.
