₹60,000 crore subsidy, Amrit Bharat trains boost affordable rail travel: Vaishnaw

The Centre is committed to expanding affordable rail travel and improving access for lower-income passengers through subsidies and capacity additions, including the introduction of Amrit Bharat trains, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Parliament on Tuesday (March 17, 2026).

Replying to a discussion on the Demands for Grants for Railway Ministry in Budget 2026, which was passed in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Mr. Vaishnaw said, “General and sleeper class coaches account for nearly 70% of Indian Railways’ total capacity. In 2024-2025, about 1,250 additional general coaches were added, and 860 have been added in the current fiscal.”

The Minister also underlined the Centre’s push for affordable long-distance travel through Amrit Bharat trains, which, he said, help cover a journey of around 1,000 km at a fare of roughly ₹450. 

He said subsidies worth ₹60,000 crore have been granted to support affordable passenger travel, which translates into an effective concession of about 45%.

“In comparison, rail fares in Europe and Japan are significantly higher,” said Mr. Vaishnaw.

At present, 133 Amrit Bharat trains are at various stages of manufacturing, with services already introduced in States such as West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The Minister also pointed to the continued expansion of premium services like the Vande Bharat Express, including the recent rollout of sleeper variants on routes such as Guwahati-Howrah.

Mr. Vaishnaw criticised Opposition-ruled poll-bound States in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, describing them as “anti-development”.

He flagged that project execution was stalled due to land acquisition delays by State governments. In Kerala, the Minister said, of the 476 hectares required, only about 65 hectares—or 14%—had been acquired so far, while 106 road overbridges and underpasses remained pending.

In Tamil Nadu, he alleged, only about 24% of the required 4,300 hectares had been acquired by the State government. In West Bengal, Mr. Vaishnaw claimed that around 60 projects were facing delays.

On the Kolkata Metro, he said, “Only 28 km has been built in 40 years by successive governments, while under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 45 km has been completed. Much more could have been done, but the airport section has been pending for 12 months as the West Bengal government has not granted permission.”