**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Railways has issued the Railways (Opening for Public Carriage of Passengers) Amendment Rules, 2026, to modify the classification of specific railway construction activities. Effective from June 16, 2026, the amendment redefines temporary deviation lines and short permanent diversions as "new minor works." This notification updates the primary rules established in 2000 and last amended in 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Regulatory Framework**
* The amendment is issued by the Central Government under the powers conferred by section 198 of the Railways Act, 1989.
* The rules are officially titled the Railways (Opening for Public Carriage of Passengers) Amendment Rules, 2026.
* These rules came into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette, June 16, 2026.
**Classification of Works**
* Chapter VII, rule 24, sub-rule (3) of the principal rules has been substituted with new criteria for "new minor works."
* All temporary deviation lines are now classified as "new minor works," regardless of their total length.
* Any permanent diversion that is less than 3 kilometers in length is also categorized as a "new minor work."
**Administrative Information**
* The notification was signed by Vivek Kumar Gupta, Member Infrastructure and Ex-Officio Secretary.
* This amendment follows the previous update made via G.S.R. 451(E) on July 7, 2025.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Railways / Railway Infrastructure Departments**
**Impact**
The classification of temporary deviations (of any length) and short permanent diversions (under 3 km) has been simplified by labeling them as "new minor works." This affects how these projects are categorized during the process of opening railways for public carriage.
**Action Required**
Project execution teams and administrative bodies must update their compliance and reporting protocols to reflect the new classification for these specific types of railway lines.
**Regulatory and Inspection Authorities**
**Impact**
Authorities responsible for the oversight of opening railway lines for public use must recognize the adjusted thresholds for what constitutes a "new minor work" versus a major project.
**Action Required**
Inspectors and regulatory officials must apply the amended sub-rule (3) of rule 24 when evaluating temporary deviation lines and permanent diversions under 3 kilometers.
Key Entities Referenced
Railways (Opening for Public Carriage of Passengers) Amendment Rules, 2026: The specific amendment introduced to classify temporary deviation lines and short permanent diversions as 'new minor works'.
Railways (Opening for Public Carriage of Passengers) Rules, 2000: The principal set of rules governing the procedures and requirements for opening railway lines for public transport in India.
Railways Act, 1989: The primary legislation under which the Central Government derives its power (Section 198) to frame and amend rules for railway operations.
Ministry of Railways (Railway Board): The primary regulatory and administrative body responsible for the notification and oversight of railway infrastructure and safety rules.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-17062026-273544
CG-DxLx-xEG-I1D7H0x6x2x0 26-273544
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 434] नई दिल्ली, मगं लवार, िनू 16, 2026/ज् यष्े ठ 26, 1948
No. 434] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2026/JYAISTHA 26, 1948
रेल मत्रं ालय
(रेलव े बोडड)
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 16 िून, 2026
सा.का.जन. 485(अ).— केंद्रीय सरकार, रेल अजधजनयम, 1989 (1989 का 24) की धारा 198 द्वारा प्रित्त
िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, रेलवे को चालू करने संबंधी (याजत्रयों के सावडिजनक वहन के जलए) जनयम, 2000 का
और संिोधन करन े के जलए जनम् नजलजखत जनयम बनाती ह,ै अर्ाडत्:-
1. सजं िप्त नाम और प्रारंभ. - (1) इन जनयमों का संजि प्त नाम रेलवे (याजत्रयों के सावडिजनक वहन के जलए चाल ू
करने) संिोधन जनयम, 2026 ह।ै
(2) ये जनयम रािपत्र में इनके प्रकािन की तारीख को प्रवृत्त होंगे।
4372 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
2. रेलवे को चालू करन े संबंधी (याजत्रयों के सावडिजनक वहन के जलए चाल ू करने) जनयम, 2000 में, अध् याय-
VII में, जनयम 24 में, उप-जनयम (3) के स्ट्र्ान पर जनम्नजलजखत रखा िाएगा, अर्ातड ्:-
“(3) दकसी भी लंबाई की प्रत्येक अस्ट्र्ायी जवचलन लाइन और 3 दक.मी. से कम लंबे कोई भी स्ट्र्ायी मागड
पररवतडन, नए छोटे जनमाडण कायड माना िाएगा,”
[फा. स.ं 70/डब्लल्य ूडी ओ/ओ आर आई/आर ओ/1/वॉल्यूम. X]
जववेक कुमार गुप्ता, सिस्ट्य अवसरंचना और पिेन सजचव
रटप्पण : मलू जनयम भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खडं 3, उप-खडं (i), म ें संखयांक सा.का.जन. 625(अ),
तारीख 21 िुलाई, 2000 द्वारा प्रकाजित दकए गय े र्े और अजं तम बार सखं यांक सा.का.जन. 451 (अ), 7 िलु ाई,
2025 द्वारा संिोजधत दकए गय ेर्े।
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(Railway Board)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 16th June, 2026
G.S.R. 485(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by section 198 of the Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989),
the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Railways (Opening for Public Carriage
of Passengers) Rules, 2000, namely:-
1. Short title and commencement. - (1) These rules may be called the Railways (Opening for Public Carriage of
Passengers) Amendment Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Railways (Opening for Public Carriage of Passengers) Rules, 2000, in Chapter VII, in rule 24, for sub-rule
(3), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely:-
“(3) Every temporary deviation line, irrespective of its length, and any permanent diversion less than 3 kilometers
in length, shall be treated as new minor works.”,
[F. No. 70/WDO/ORI/RO/1/Vol. X]
VIVEK KUMAR GUPTA, Member Infrastructure and Ex-Officio Secy.
Note: The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i) vide
number G.S.R. 625(E), dated the 21st July, 2000 and was last amended vide number G.S.R. 451(E), dated the
07th July, 2025.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.