The Union Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronic and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, released ‘The Indian Railways Construction Manual, 2023’, an update to the earlier circa 1960 version. New reforms and standards have been incorporated in the latest version including those for EPC contracts, bridge construction, execution of signalling, electrical and non-interlocking works. It also provides guidelines on land acquisition, forest clearance, bridge design, contract management, tunnel construction and road flyover and underbridges. The manual was a collaborative effort with railway officials and was developed in simple language for easy comprehension by field officials.
