Indian Railways Announces Five New Reforms Under ‘Reform Express

Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, today announced that in line with Indian Railways’ resolve to undertake reforms during 2026, five new reforms have been approved. With the approval of these new reforms, the total number of reforms for the year 2026 has reached nine.

Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw said that under the ongoing “Reform Express” initiative, four reforms had already been announced and five new reforms are being introduced. Out of the five new reforms, two are related to cargo, one to construction, and two to passenger convenience.

Speaking on reform number five, which focuses on salt transportation, Shri Vaishnaw said India is one of the largest producers and exporters of salt in the world. The three major producing states are Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. Out of nearly 35 million tonnes of salt produced annually in India, about 9.2 million tonnes per annum are transported by railways, reflecting a significant untapped opportunity.

The Union Minister noted that the modal share of railways in salt transportation varies by use – approximately 25 per cent for industrial salt and around 65 per cent for salt meant for human consumption. He added that 62 per cent of all rail-based salt traffic covers distances of 1,000 to 2,500 kilometres, making it a segment well-suited for rail movement.

He said detailed consultations were held with salt producers and transporters to understand the challenges. The study identified key issues, including unsuitable wagon design, corrosion of wagons caused by salt, water seepage in open wagons despite tarpaulin covers, and multiple handling stages leading to higher costs and losses.

To address these issues, a stainless steel, top-loading and side-discharge container system has now been successfully developed. The container is made of stainless steel to prevent corrosion, and is equipped with top-loading flaps and a hydraulic side-discharge mechanism, allowing easy unloading into trucks at the destination.(updated on 24th march 2026)