METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Indian Railways offers yoga, A/C to curtail accidents

The railway, which transports 13 million passengers daily, will offer yoga lessons to staff to promote their mental and physical health.

January 1, 2004
2 min to read


Indian Railways is providing train drivers with air-conditioned cabins and other staff members with yoga lessons in a bid to reduce accident rates and improve efficiency, according to officials in an Agence France Presse (AFP) report. The railway, which experienced a number of accidents in recent months, took steps to improve the rail employees’ working conditions. Currently, drivers sit in uncomfortable wooden seats in temperatures as high as 132 degrees Fahrenheit. By air conditioning the cabin, rail authorities believe drivers will be more alert and less likely to fall asleep, said the news service. In addition to adding air conditioning, drivers will benefit from cushioned seats and walkie-talkies to communicate with stations. To improve the efficiency of other rail staff, yoga training will be given every morning, beginning with ticket checkers and followed by booking clerks, station masters and cabin staff at a later date, said the AFP. The aim of the yoga lessons is to keep the staff physically fit and mentally alert, said A.K. Singh, senior commercial manager of the Danapur rail division. The railway, which transports 13 million passengers through 7,000 stations every day, dealt with its latest accident in July. Twenty-one people were killed when a Golconda Express train plunged off a bridge onto a busy street in Warangal town, Andhra Pradesh state. India’s rail system, one of the world’s largest, with a workforce of 1.6 million, is saddled with infrastructure that dates back to the British colonial era before 1947.

Topics:Management
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Management

Ray Melleady and industry leaders on Capitol Hill
Managementby Alex RomanAugust 24, 2026

The Business Voice Behind Public Transportation

As chair of APTA’s Business Members Board of Governors, Ray Melleady explains how more than 850 business members are partnering with transit agencies to advance funding, innovation, and industry-wide collaboration.

Read More →
A purple and white CDTA bus parked at a bus stop.
Managementby Staff and News ReportsAugust 24, 2026

New York’s CDTA Service Rebalancing Boosts Productivity, On-Time Performance

Despite a slight dip in ridership, the agency’s FY2026 results show its service rebalancing strategy is helping the agency carry more riders per service hour while improving reliability.

Read More →
People Movement: John Walsh
Managementby Staff and News ReportsAugust 21, 2026

People Movement: ABC Names John Walsh as Chief Commercial Officer

In this edition, METRO also covers recent appointments and announcements at the DART, STV, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
METROspectives: The Overlooked Issues Holding Bus Operators Back
Managementby Alex RomanAugust 21, 2026

From Surviving to Thriving: Building Stronger Transportation Organizations

Bus Business Consultants founder Brian Dickson shares lessons on leadership, organizational health, and creating options for long-term success in a changing transportation industry.

Read More →
Crowd waiting for LA Metro bus
Managementby Alex RomanAugust 18, 2026

LA Metro Ridership Continues Growth as Rail Gains Accelerate

New rail connections and major events help drive continued ridership gains, with Metro recording its eighth consecutive month of year-over-year rail growth.

Read More →
The group shot at TransPro's TransDash Summit
Managementby Staff and News ReportsAugust 18, 2026

TransDASH Summit Focuses on Measuring What Matters in Transit

Transit agencies unveil a national performance platform designed to benchmark customer experience, safety, community value, and other outcomes.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
The Future Hits the Road
Technologyby Alex RomanAugust 17, 2026

Jacksonville’s NAVI Project Charts a New Course for Autonomous Public Transportation

Through its NAVI program, JTA is showing how autonomous vehicles, intelligent infrastructure, and coordinated operations can work together to deliver everyday public transportation.

Read More →
An Amtrak Cascades Airo Trainset at a station.
Railby Alex RomanAugust 14, 2026

FRA Announces $5.3B in Rail Investments, Including $2B for Amtrak

Funding will support grade-crossing improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and new Amtrak equipment in 23 states.

Read More →
Finding the Right Balance: Optimizing Transit Maintenance
ManagementAugust 14, 2026

Finding the ‘Happy Medium’: Optimizing Maintenance Without Sacrificing Reliability

The key to maintenance optimization isn’t doing less work—it’s doing the right work at the right time on the right assets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Jonathan Hunt, GM/CEO at MARTA
Managementby Staff and News ReportsAugust 13, 2026

People Movement: MARTA Drops Interim Tag on GM/CEO Hunt and More

In this edition, METRO covers recent appointments and announcements at the FMCSA, HDR, SilverRide, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.

Read More →