Amid disruptions, Railways (Amendment) Bill passed in the Lok Sabha
The Hindu
The Railways (Amendment) Bill 2024 aims to streamline operations, enhance autonomy, and establish an independent regulator for Indian Railways.
The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed on Wednesday (December 11, 2024) in the Lok Sabha, despite disruptions. The Bill was passed five months after it was introduced on the floor of the House.
All the provisions in the erstwhile colonial-era Indian Railway Board Act, 1905 are proposed to be incorporated in the Railways Act, 1989 through this Bill. It is intended to simplify the legal framework and reduces the need to refer to two laws.
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The Bill also proposes to amend the Railways Act, 1989 to provide statutory backing to the Railway Board, which has functioned without such a sanction since it began functioning.
The statutory powers seek to enhance the functioning and independence of the Railway Board. The provisions added to the amended Bill authorise the Central government to decide the composition of the Railway Board. This includes the number of members, their terms of service, and their qualifications and experience.
The Bill also proposes to improve operational efficiencies and decentralise powers, granting greater autonomy to Railway Zones. Increasing autonomy has been a long-standing demand, supported by various committees, including 2014 Sreedharan Committee.
The Bill proposes to establish an independent regulator to oversee tariffs, safety, and the participation of the private sector in the Railways. Recommendations to have an independent regulator were earlier made in 2015 by the Committee on Restructuring Railways.
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