Accidents down but train punctuality hit

unmanned crossings there. For the broad gauge (track width 1,676 mm), which comprises 95% of the total track length, Railways targets to eliminate unmanned crossings by March 2020 but is likely to advance the deadline. The majority of the metre gauge (track width 1,000mm) is being converted into broad gauge. But punctuality of trains has taken a hit with almost 30% trains running late in 2017-18, the worst performance since 2010-11.

Other achievements include the highspeed corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, or the bullet train project, which is expected to finish by 2022 and cut travel time from seven to three hours.

Another major step has been in increasing the connectivity in the Northeast. With an investment of ₹90,000 crore in the coming years, the Railways is hopeful of connecting the capitals of all the northeastern states by 2020. Currently, only the capitals of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura are connected by rail.

According to a Railways official who asked not to be identified, the average speed of completion of new lines per year has tripled, from 21 kms between 2009-14 to 68 Kms between 2014 and 2018. But a delay in the Dedicated Freight Corridors is resulting in congestion. “The major concern is railway is not growing. Is you see the passenger figure of last four years, passenger traffic is stagnant. Because of delay of trains, railway is not a reliable mode of transport anymore. Safety is of course important but railway needs to find a balance,” said Vinoo Mathur, who retired as member (traffic), railway board in 2008.