SC flags Railways' misplaced budget focus, stresses passenger safety first

The Supreme Court voiced strong concern over Indian Railways' insufficient passenger safety funding, stressing that "nothing is more important than the common man's safety and security."

In a February 3 order, Justices A. Amanullah and R. Mahadevan reviewed Railways' affidavit on FY allocations. After demanding three-year data on parliamentary grants, internal heads, and expenditures (including 2025-26), the bench criticized heavy outlays to PSUs/JVs/SPVs as "absolutely unacceptable." "We expect authorities to invest substantially in direct infrastructure—prioritizing safety and security—for the common man who trusts Railways," the order stated. "Railways isn't for elsewhere investments."

Hearings on January 13 highlighted unmanned crossings, over/under-bridges, 'Kavach' (anti-collision system to curb human error), and limited online-only passenger insurance unavailable at counters.

The SC backed universal insurance for all travelers and directed Railways to revisit it. The Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety must submit immediate, practical suggestions by the February 17 hearing.