Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw held a review meeting at the Railway Board on June 25,2026 to introduce major reforms in the wagon design policy and finalise a new policy within 15 days.
The decision aims to make IR the preferred mode of freight transport for various types of commodities. The decision follows Indian Railways’ (IR) extensive consultations with various industries, trade bodies, and major freight customers associated with commodities. During these discussions, industry representatives suggested that if wagon designs are customized according to the specific handling, loading, unloading, and transportation requirements of different commodities, rail transport could be adopted on a much wider scale. IR has already developed specialized wagons for commodities such as cement and salt in accordance with industry requirements.
Proposed policy
Under the proposed policy, industries will be allowed to design wagons according to their specific requirements. For instance, transportation of steel coils requires special binding arrangements and dedicated loading and unloading systems, while several other commodities also have their own distinct operational requirements.
Under the new framework, industries will be empowered to propose modifications in wagon design as per their needs. The responsibility for ensuring wagon safety will rest with RDSO and the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS). These reforms are expected to enable the entry of several new industries into the railway freight ecosystem. This reform will promote innovation in wagon development and strengthen the freight transport system of Indian Railways. By providing commodity-specific transport solutions, Indian Railways aims to attract new freight streams, enhance customer convenience, and significantly increase the rail share in the national logistics sector.
During the meeting, both Ministers of State for Railways V. Somanna and Ravneet Singh Bittu, the Director General of RDSO (Research Designs and Standards Organisation) and Railway Board Members were present.
