Railways Minister Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw Launches Five Reforms in Railways’ 52 Reforms in 52 Weeks Drive
- IBEF
- March 25, 2026
Union Railway Minister Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw has launched five key reforms under the ambitious ‘52 Reforms in 52 Weeks’ initiative aimed at enhancing efficiency, passenger convenience, and operational effectiveness of Indian Railways. The newly introduced reforms focus on ticket cancellation and refund rules, flexibility in boarding points, improved logistics for salt and automobile transportation, and enhanced construction quality. As part of passenger-centric measures, a simplified cancellation policy has been introduced wherein only a minimal flat fee is charged for cancellations made more than 72 hours before departure. For cancellations between 72 and 24 hours, 25% of the fare will be deducted, while a 50% refund is applicable for cancellations within 24 to 8 hours. No refund will be provided for cancellations made within eight hours of departure. Additionally, passengers can now cancel counter tickets from any railway station across the country.
Further improving passenger flexibility, the boarding station can now be changed up to 30 minutes before train departure, compared to earlier restrictions tied to chart preparation. On the freight side, reforms targeting salt and automobile transportation aim to streamline logistics and improve efficiency in cargo handling. The initiative also places emphasis on improving construction quality across railway infrastructure projects, reflecting a broader push toward modernization and safety. These reforms are part of a larger systemic effort to introduce one reform every week, targeting governance improvements, technological integration, and better service delivery across the railway network. The initiative underscores the government’s focus on transforming railways into a more customer-friendly, efficient, and globally competitive transport system.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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