Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw Addresses Budget Webinar on Sustaining and Strengthening Economic Growth in Infrastructure, Logistics and Freight
Synchronized Capacity Expansion, Stronger Quality Standards and Contractual Reforms are The Three Key Focus Areas to Reduce Disputes and Ensure Timely Delivery
Highlighting Multi-Dimensional Complexity of Railway Projects, Union Minister Calls for Domain Expertise and Sector-Specific Experience in Execution
Posted On: 03 MAR 2026 7:10PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw addressed the second installment of the Budget Webinar series today, focusing on the theme of “Sustaining and Strengthening Economic Growth: Infrastructure, Logistics & Freight”.
During the webinar, the Union Minister highlighted three key focus areas for the sector: scaling up capacity in a synchronized manner, strengthening quality and qualification standards, and reforming documentation and contractual frameworks to reduce disputes and ensure timely delivery of projects.
Synchronized Expansion of Railway Infrastructure
Shri Vaishnaw underlined the unprecedented growth of India’s railway network over the past decade. Approximately 35,000 km of new tracks have been added, surpassing the total railway network of Germany. Further, nearly 99% of the network has been electrified.
The Union Minister emphasized that such rapid scaling poses a major challenge: enhancing industry capacity and resources in tandem with government expansion. He stressed that railway development is fundamentally a partnership between industry and government. Sudden increases or decreases in project scale can adversely affect industry preparedness. Therefore, skilling, supervision, quality standards, and technology adoption must grow in sync with infrastructure expansion. Inputs from industry stakeholders will help shape future reforms.
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