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The aim of the audit is to “assess Indian Railways’ progress towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 in alignment with India’s climate commitments and global sustainability goals.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) will undertake audits of four major Indian Railway programmes including suburban train services, e-procurement platform and multimodal transport and logistics initiatives, and present the reports in the Monsoon Session of the Parliament in 2026, an official said Thursday.
Speaking to the media, Additional Deputy CAG, Pravir Pandey said the CAG has decided to take up an audit of Multi-Modal Transport and Logistics Initiatives by Indian Railways. This is significant in view of the National Rail Plan (NRP) 2030 that aims to create a “future ready” Railway system by 2030 and also aims to increase the modal share of the Railways in freight to 45%.
The audit of the Multi-Modal Transport and Logistics Initiatives with particular emphasis on “First Mile Last Mile” connectivity with logistics hubs and (Origin-Destination) O-D pairs will be done by the CAG’s Railway Audit Wing during the financial year 2025-26. “The audit will focus on the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor and Western Dedicated Freight Corridor as well as the Golden Quadrilateral,” Pandey said.
He said the CAG conducted a pilot study on the subject two months back. “Now, we are almost ready with our audit approach, and after some formal approvals within the department, we’ll be launching it. We have asked the Chairman, Railway Board, as per the mandate, for an entry conference to present our case and inform them what we are going to do,” Pandey said. “The entry conference will happen this month.”
To ensure that the audit provides comprehensive and practical insights, the Railway Audit Wing of the CAG’s office has conducted a series of consultations, meetings, and conferences with key stakeholders, including Chairman and Members of the Railway Board, CMDs/ MDs of Logistics related PSUs and Heads of Port Authorities, Public and Private Train Operators, Freight Operators, and Terminal Operators, among others, to obtain diverse perspectives from entities involved in India’s logistics and freight ecosystem, Pandey said, adding the IIM Mumbai has been engaged as the Knowledge Partner. The CAG has decided to take up an information technology audit of Indian Railways e-Procurement System, an online platform for handling all procurement activities across Indian Railways. Besides, the CAG will also conduct an audit on “Sustainable Rail Transport: ESGs and Green Energy”, he said.
The aim of the audit is to “assess Indian Railways’ progress towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 in alignment with India’s climate commitments and global sustainability goals,” Pandey said.
Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister’s Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
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