Soon after the Union Budget 2025-26, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that thanks to the sector's big allocations, it will expand faster with tremendous additions in the next few years. R 2,52,000 has been allocated as the gross budgetary support for Railways, and the minister said that by the end of 2025-26, Railways will achieve 100% electrification. A few of the launches expected include around 200 Vande Bharat trains, 100 Amrit Bharat trains, 50 Namo Bharat rapid rail and 17,500 general AC coaches, said the minister, responding to the media after the budget presentation. Here are a few of the budget highlights for railways:

1) Rs 1.08 lakh crore is dedicated to improving safety enhancements. This includes the upgradation of tracks and signalling systems, construction flyovers and underpasses and implementation the Kavach safety system.
2) The budget supports the expansion of the energy mineral and cement corridors, the port connectivity corridor and the high-traffic density corridor.
3) Around 40,000 conventional rail coaches will be converted to Vande Bharat standard.
4) Investment in solar energy and other energy-efficient measures
5) Partnership with private companies to improve the efficiency of rail services
6) Better wi-fi facilities at railway stations
7) Digitisation of ticketing and other services
8) Train railway staff with modern technologies for customer service and safety

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Experts not happy
Despite the railway claiming that the budget proposals prioritise safety, experts and various railway unions said the budget overlooks safety-related issues. Former Indian Railways Institute of Signal Engineering DG Shailendra Kumar Goel told the media that the funds allocated are insufficient to meet the Kavach system requirement. He said the gross budget outlay of Rs 6,800 crore for signalling works will not be enough to support the kavach installation of 44,000 route kilometres. The National Federation of Indian Railwaymen also said the budget doesn't address the blanket ban imposed on creating posts in the railways, which has affected the creation of safety category posts. 

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