Indian Railways has announced plans to produce more Vande Bharat Express trains in India. The transport provider has issued a production plan of 102 rakes of the semi-high speed train, with 35 slated for production in 2022-2023 and 67 in 2023-2024. This move is expected to bolster the transportation infrastructure of the country and provide faster and more efficient travel options for passengers.
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Indian Railways’ production plan for Vande Bharat Express trains
Union Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has informed that out of the 475 Vande Bharat rakes planned, 75 will be Chair Car versions, while the remaining rakes will be manufactured as Sleeper versions. Indian Railways has also planned to manufacture 400 Vande Bharat trains (Sleeper version) of three different technologies, for which tenders have been floated to select technology partners for manufacturing within IR Production Units with IR manpower. Furthermore, there is a proposal to introduce 8,000 Vande Bharat coaches in the Budget for the year 2023-24.
Details of the Production Plan
As per the Revised Estimate of Financial Year 2022-2023, a sum of Rs 19479 crore has been allocated for the PH 21-Rolling Stock Project (Carriages), which is responsible for providing Vande Bharat trains. The design and production of 102 Vande Bharat rakes will be carried out by Indian Railways Production Units. Currently, Indian Railways has 10 operational Vande Bharat Express trains, the first of which started on February 15, 2019, between New Delhi and Varanasi.
Kavach implementation on Indian Railways
Indian Railways has proposed to cover its railway network with Kavach progressively. Kavach is a high-tech system designed to enhance the safety and security of passengers traveling on trains. Currently, the Kavach initiative has been implemented on 1455 kilometers of railway routes in the South Central Railway network. Contracts have also been awarded for Kavach work on approximately 3000 route kms of Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah sections of Indian Railways, and work is in progress.
Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal Policy
To boost investment from the industry in the development of additional terminals for handling rail cargo, Indian Railways launched the new Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT) policy on December 15, 2021. The construction of these terminals will take place on non-Railway land, as well as partially or entirely on Railway land. The target is to commission 100 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) in three financial years — 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 — of which 30 GCTs have already been commissioned. As of now, 145 applications have been received for the development of cargo terminals under the GCT policy, and out of them, 103 in-principle approvals have been issued.
Conclusion
Overall, Indian Railways’ ambitious plans to enhance the passenger experience, safety, and cargo handling through the introduction of Vande Bharat Express trains, the Kavach system, and the Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal policy are set to revolutionize the country’s transportation infrastructure. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and innovative policies, Indian Railways is poised to significantly improve its services and contribute to the economic growth of the country. As these projects are implemented, it will be exciting to see the positive impact they have on the rail industry and the nation as a whole.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the production plan for Vande Bharat Express trains?
Indian Railways has issued a production plan of 102 rakes of the semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express train, with 35 slated for production in 2022-2023 and 67 in 2023-2024.
What types of Vande Bharat Express trains will be manufactured?
As per the production plan unveiled by Indian Railways, out of the planned 102 rakes of Vande Bharat Express trains, 75 will be Chair Car versions and the remaining 27 rakes will be manufactured as Sleeper versions. Additionally, Indian Railways has plans to manufacture 400 Vande Bharat Express trains of three different technologies, all of which will be Sleeper versions.
What is the Kavach system and how is it being implemented on Indian Railways?
Kavach is a high-tech system designed to enhance the safety and security of passengers traveling on trains. Indian Railways has proposed to cover its railway network with Kavach progressively. At present, the Kavach initiative has been implemented on 1455 kilometers of railway routes within the South Central Railway network, and contracts have been granted for Kavach work on around 3000 route kms of the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah sections of the Indian Railways.
What is the Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal Policy?
The Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT) policy is a new initiative launched by Indian Railways to boost investment from the industry in the development of additional terminals for handling rail cargo. Indian Railways aims to commission 100 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) within the next three financial years, namely 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25. Currently, 30 GCTs have already been commissioned, and the construction of the remaining 70 terminals is underway.
How many applications have been received for the development of cargo terminals under the GCT policy?
As of now, 145 applications have been received for the development of cargo terminals under the GCT policy, and out of them, 103 in-principle approvals have been issued.
What is the allocated budget for the PH 21-Rolling Stock Project (Carriages)?
As per the Revised Estimate of Financial Year 2022-2023, a sum of Rs 19479 crore has been allocated for the PH 21-Rolling Stock Project (Carriages), which is responsible for providing Vande Bharat trains.
What is the expected impact of Indian Railways’ ambitious plans?
The introduction of Vande Bharat Express trains, the Kavach system and the Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal policy are set to revolutionize the country’s transportation infrastructure and significantly improve Indian Railways’ services. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and innovative policies, Indian Railways is poised to contribute to the economic growth of the country.
