Indian Railways (IR) connects the length and breadth of the nation through a track network spanning more than 120,000 km, servicing over 7,000 stations. In recent years, IR has achieved significant progress in terms of infrastructure creation as well as modernisation. The pace of track construction has doubled from 2,500-3,000 km per annum during 2014-20 to 5,000 km per annum in 2023. IR plans to take this to 10,000 km per annum over the next few years. The major areas of infrastructure creation/upgradation are doubling of lines and new line construction.
IR is aiming for large-scale capacity expansion of the railway network through the mechanisation of construction activities. This includes the adoption of track-laying machinery, precast construction techniques for overhead line equipment and road overbridges, circular foundations, and innovative methods such as box-laying in road underbridges.
Budget highlights
The Ministry of Railways has received an allocation of Rs 2,554 billion for 2024-25 (budget estimate), which is 4.98 per cent higher than the revised estimate (Rs 2,433 billion) and 5.85 per cent higher than the budget estimate (Rs 2,413 billion) for 2023-24. Of the total allocation for 2024-25, Rs 44.92 billion has been allotted to signalling and telecommunication and Rs 410.86 billion to rolling stock. For infrastructure development, Rs 360.91 billion has been allotted to new lines, Rs 45.34 billion to gauge conversion, Rs 300 billion to doubling works, Rs 171.5 billion to track renewals, and Rs 20.88 billion to bridges, tunnel works and approaches.
In a transformative move, the government announced the implementation of three major economic railway corridor programmes under the PM Gati Shakti plan, aimed at bolstering multimodal connectivity across the nation. These include energy, mineral and cement corridors, port connectivity corridors, and high-traffic Density corridors. Additionally, 40,000 normal bogies are proposed to be converted into standard Vande Bharat bogies.
Freight loading and earning
IR is scaling new heights in its freight business. During 2022-23, it achieved an originating freight loading of 1,512 million tonnes (mt), that is, an incremental loading of 94 mt over the previous best of 1,418 mt achieved in 2021-22, with a growth of 7 per cent. During the April-January period of 2023-24, freight loading of 1,297 mt was achieved against loading of 1,243 mt in the corresponding period of 2022-23. IR’s freight revenue for April-January 2023-24 stood at Rs 1,406 billion as against Rs 1,354 billion over the corresponding period of the previous year.
Progress under big-ticket programmes/projects
The station redevelopment and modernisation programme is progressing at a steady pace, with four stations already redeveloped so far and more than 500 stations at various stages of implementation. The government plans to redevelop/modernise a modernise over 1,300 stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Some important stations being redeveloped are Kanpur, Prayagraj, Visakhapatnam, Chandigarh, Delhi Cantt, Jammu Tawi, Ayodhya, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Ghaziabad.
The redeveloped stations will be equipped with state-of-the-art technologies such as intelligent and green buildings, efficient energy/water conservation technologies, elevated concourse, multi level car parking and food courts. Other features of the redeveloped stations include multimodal transport integration, automated systems for ticketing, amenities for Divyangjans, and monetisation of commercial areas around/above the stations. One of the biggest challenges while executing station redevelopment projects is avoiding or minimising traffic disruptions.
Work on the country’s first bullet train project, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail, is in full swing. The first phase, connecting Surat and Bilimora in south Gujarat, is expected to become operational by 2026. All civil contracts have been awarded for Gujarat and Maharashtra. To expedite viaduct construction, the full-span girder launching method is being employed in addition to the segmental launching method. Indigenously designed and manufactured equipment and machinery, such as straddle carriers, girder launchers and transporters, are also being used. The project also involves the construction of India’s first twin-track undersea rail tunnel spanning 7 km at Thane Creek.
The development of dedicated freight corridors (DFCs) has significantly boosted freight transportation through rail. The eastern DFC is now fully operational, while about 80 per cent of the western DFC has been commissioned. Once completely operational, the DFC track, along with the existing railway track, is expected to capture 150-200 mt of incremental traffic.
Meanwhile, the Gati Shakti Multi modal Cargo Terminal (GCT) policy and the Mission Hungry for Cargo initiative are expected to play a key role in increasing the railway’s share in freight transportation from the current 27 per cent to 45 per cent by 2030. In 2023, 51 GCTs have been commissioned, with around 80 more locations identified for the development of such terminals.
Technology adoption for improving safety
IR’s growing focus on rail safety has led to several advancements in signalling systems, including the development of an indigenous automatic train protection system called KAVACH. As of December 2023, 139 locomotives (including electric multiple unit rakes) have been equipped with KAVACH. Further, advanced technologies such as building information modelling, drones and internet of things-based monitoring are being increasingly deployed to enhance safety, efficiency and passenger experience.
Technology is also playing a key role in asset management. The online monitoring of the rolling stock system is an innovative digital solution adopted by IR for the early detection of defects and deficiencies in rolling stock assets. Additionally, preventive maintenance of railway assets such as coaches and wagons is undertaken to ensure safe train operations and to effectively monitor rail accidents across the country.
Modernisation initiatives
There is a growing focus on rolling stock modernisation, with several semi-high-speed modern trains such as Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat Express and Tejas Express being inducted into the railway system. Recent developments and innovations in the rolling stock segment include material upgradation from mild steel to stainless steel, compliance with crashworthiness requirements, integration of obstacle deflector and derailment detection devices and wheel damping systems, adoption of microprocessor controlled brake systems, and the transition from conventional signalling systems to communication-based train control signalling systems.
The launch of Vande Bharat trains is a significant step towards the indigenisation of complex semi-high-speed rail systems. The first version of Vande Bharat was unveiled in February 2019, with the aim of matching the speed and comfort levels of European train systems. As of January 2024, around 82 Vande Bharat train services are in operation. Northeast India’s first semi-high-speed train was launched in May 2023, connecting Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri.
Two Amrit Bharat trains have been introduced, connecting the Darbhanga-Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal (Amrit Bharat Express) and the Malda Town-Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminus (Bengaluru) (Amrit Bharat Express), along with approval to launch additional 50 trains of the same kind. The Amrit Bharat Express trains are high speed passenger trains featuring the Linke Hofmann Busch push-pull design, comprising engines positioned at both the front and rear for enhanced acceleration and deceleration.
Becoming net zero
IR has set a target of becoming a net zero carbon emitter by 2030. To this end, electrification of rail tracks, use of head on generation, introduction of three-phase electric locomotives, and increased use of renewable energy are some of the key focus areas. The pace of electrification over the past four years has been remarkable. Approximately 95 per cent of the Indian broad gauge network is already electrified and the remaining is targeted to be completed in 2024. Key future projections for IR from 2021-22 to 2029-30 include an increase in energy consumption from 23.6 billion kWh to 72 billion kWh, an increase in the number of electric locomotives from 8,793 to 20,739, and a decrease in diesel locomotives from 5,232 to 1,000.
Further, IR is planning to run 35 hydrogen trains under the Hydrogen for Heritage initiative, aiming to incorporate hydrogen fuel cells to act as an alternative to diesel engines. The first of these trains is expected to run on the Jind-Sonipat section of Northern Railway.
The way forward
Efforts are being made to improve last-mile connectivity to railway stations through better urban planning and integration with other modes of transportation (for example, metro, buses and ride-sharing) to encourage the use of trains for commuting. Railway stations will play a central role in the development of smart cities and transit-oriented development projects, promoting sustainable and integrated urban growth.
Going forward, as part of the National Rail Plan for 2030, an annual investment of Rs 1.8 trillion-Rs 2 trillion is expected in major projects over the next five years. Apart from this, construction entities engaged in railway projects are expected to see sustained order inflows.
Ishita Gupta