Overview
- Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw directed officials on Thursday to finalise a new Wagon Design Policy within 15 days to let industries propose bespoke freight‑wagon designs.
- The policy will permit firms to design wagons for specific commodities while the Research Designs and Standards Organisation and the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety keep responsibility for technical and safety approvals under strict prototype rules.
- Officials say the reform aims to attract cargo that currently moves by road, speed up a shift to electrified rail, and lower freight costs for businesses and consumers.
- Railway trials with specialised wagons for cement and salt showed faster loading and unloading, and industry examples such as steel coils illustrate why dedicated securing and handling features are needed.
- Next steps include detailed industry consultations, prototype approvals by RDSO/CCRS, and alignment with the National Rail Plan goal to raise rail’s freight share as Indian Railways nears full electrification.