Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Unveils Major Developments

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced several plans to revamp India’s rail network and services, including updates on the country’s first bullet train section. The 50km stretch between Bilimora and Surat in Gujarat is expected to be completed by August 2026. Vaishnaw also discussed the Kavach system, a domestically developed warning system to prevent on-track collisions, and the Gajraj system, which aims to reduce collisions between elephants and trains. Additionally, he mentioned the expansion of railway tracks to improve connectivity across different regions of India.

The Railways Minister reported an increase in the number of new trains in India since the pandemic, with mail/express services rising from 1,768 to 2,124 and suburban services increasing from 5,626 to 5,774. Passenger trains also saw a slight increase from 2,792 to 2,856. In the previous year, the Railways served 640 crore passengers, with a target of 750 crore for the upcoming year.

Regarding the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, Vaishnaw stated that significant progress had been made, with 100 km of viaducts and 230 km of pier work already completed. Viaducts play a crucial role in carrying roads or railway tracks over valleys or gorges. The project has been steadily advancing since November 2021, with the first kilometer of the viaduct constructed in six months and the 50th kilometer completed by April of the following year.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor also includes the construction of bridges over six rivers, including the Par, Auranga, Purna, Mindhola, Ambika, and Venganiya. The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) shared drone videos showcasing the progress of these bridges. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 1.08 lakh crore, with the center providing Rs 10,000 crore and Gujarat and Maharashtra contributing Rs 5,000 crore each. The remaining funding will be secured through a loan from Japan at a minimal 0.1% interest rate.

Overall, the Railways Minister’s updates highlight the efforts to modernize India’s rail infrastructure and improve the efficiency and safety of the country’s train services.