Lok Sabha Passes Railways Bill to Enhance Board Independence

• The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was passed in the Lok Sabha despite disruptions to parliamentary proceedings.

• The Bill incorporates all provisions from the colonial-era Indian Railway Board Act, 1905, into the Railways Act, 1989.

• The amendment aims to simplify the legal framework and reduce the need to refer to two laws.

• The Bill also proposes to amend the Railways Act, 1989 to provide statutory backing to the Railway Board.

• The Bill aims to enhance the functioning and independence of the Railway Board.

• The Bill proposes to improve operational efficiency and decentralize powers, granting greater autonomy to railway zones.

• An independent regulator is proposed to oversee taris, safety, and the participation of the private sector in the Railways.

• The amendment is expected to speed up the approval process for train services and allow the government to fast-track infrastructure and superfast train operations