The Ministry of Railways has earned a distinguished place in the Limca Book of Records for orchestrating the largest public-service event across multiple locations. On February 26, 2024, this monumental gathering drew a staggering 40,19,516 attendees spread across 2,140 venues.
The event marked the inauguration of several road-over and road-under railway bridges and saw the laying of foundation stones for new railway stations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This colossal endeavor by Indian Railways has now been etched into the esteemed Limca Book of Records.
Concurrently, Ashwini Vaishnaw took up the mantle as Minister of Railways for a second tenure under the auspices of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ceremony, held on a Tuesday morning in Delhi, also saw Vaishnaw entrusted with the portfolios of Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, in addition to his railway responsibilities.
The Ministry staff, forming a welcoming line on the stairway to his office, greeted the Union Minister with floral tributes. Vaishnaw expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi, emphasizing the Prime Minister’s deep, sentimental bond with the Railways.
“Once more, the populace has placed its faith in PM Modi to steer the nation forward. Railways will play a pivotal role in this journey. Over the past decade, PM Modi has spearheaded significant reforms within the railways—ranging from extensive electrification, the laying of new tracks, the introduction of novel train services, to the redevelopment of stations—these are among his most notable accomplishments,” Vaishnaw stated to the media following his assumption of duties.
“The Prime Minister has consistently prioritized the railways as it is the quintessential mode of transportation for the common man and a vital component of our national economy. His emotional connection to the railways underscores this focus. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the Union Minister reiterated.
Vaishnaw is now poised to steer the modernization and augmentation of India’s railway network, a critical infrastructure for enhancing national connectivity and fostering economic development. In his capacity as Minister of IT, Vaishnaw will oversee the regulation and facilitation of the media landscape, ensuring press freedom and nurturing its growth, while adeptly addressing the challenges posed by digital transformation and the menace of misinformation.