According to official data, around 30% of trains were not on time in
financial year 2017-18. This is indicating Indian Railways’ worst
punctuality performance in three years.
April 2017-March 2018, the punctuality of trains was 71.39 per cent
April 2016-March 2017, the punctuality of trains was 76.69 per cent
April 2015-March 2016, the punctuality of trains was 77.44 per cent
About this, Indian Railways officials have blamed ongoing massive
maintenance work. In 2016-2017, Indian Railways was doing
maintenance on 2,687 locations. However, Indian Railways put in over
18 lakh maintenance blocks in 4,426 locations during the financial year
2017-2018.
Railway Board Chairman, Ashwani Lohani has also taken note of the
delays occurring across zones and called it “the embarrassment for
Indian Railways.” As per sources, a meeting with zonal railways on
punctuality will be conducted soon.