CAG puts Railways' freight share target under scanner

Move to ascertain if investments, modernization have translated into measurable fall in costs

- Dhirendra Kumar [e-mail]

Under the National Rail Plan 2030, Indian Railways has set a target to increase its freight modal share to 45%.

(MINT)

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has initiated a series of performance audits covering Indian Railways’ multimodal logistics, digital procurement systems, green transport initiatives, and suburban train services.

Additional deputy CAG Pravir Pandey described it as one of the most comprehensive assessments of the national transporter in recent years. The move follows rising logistics costs and a renewed government focus on infrastructure efficiency under the PM Gati Shakti plan.

The audit on “multi-modal transport and logistics initiatives by Indian Railways” is aimed at examining whether the sector's investments and modernization efforts have translated into measurable cost reductions and improved freight mobility, the CAG official said.