New Delhi: The Parliament on Monday cleared the Railways (Amendment) Bill 2024 with Rajya Sabha passing the bill which seeks to enhance the functioning and independence of the Railway Board.
The Upper House approved the Bill by voice vote following a discussion on it. The Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill.
Replying to the discussion on the Bill, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Indian Railways has been undergoing continuous reforms with focus on infrastructure building, safety and modernisation.
“In 11 years, 34,000 kilometers of new railway tracks have been built, which is more railway tracks than a developed country like Germany and 45,000 kilometers of electrification has been done,” the Minister said.
Vaishnaw highlighted safety as the government’s top priority.
Talking about the Bill, he said, “This is a simplification bill. Instead of two laws, all the provisions are
in one law. This bill has been brought with this spirit. Today the General Manager has the power to accept all contracts, whether it is Rs 10 crores or Rs 1,000 crores.”
UNI
