Over the past few years, Indian Railways (IR) has made significant strides in rail safety, modernisation and technological innovation. With strong budgetary support, IR aims to achieve its objective of higher speed, better passenger amenities and robust freight performance. Indian Infrastructure takes a look at some of the key developments in the sector during the past one year…
Steps towards safety, sustainability and enhancing the passenger experience
- Consistent rise in budgetary allocation: The Ministry of Railways received a budgetary outlay of Rs 2.65 trillion in 2024-25, an increase of 5.8 per cent over the previous year’s allocation. Of this, Rs 1.08 trillion will be allocated for railway safety initiatives. This accounts for about 41 per cent of the total railway budget. The major focus areas will include KAVACH installation, enhancement of the signalling system, track renewal, development of flyovers and underpasses, and deployment of safety features in coaches.
- Safety initiatives: IR has allocated Rs 11.12 billion for the deployment of KAVACH during 2024-25. Further, the detailed project report and estimates for around 6,000 route km have already been approved. The long term evolution (LTE)-based KAVACH 4.0 has also received approval from the Research Design and Standards Organisation. IR has also awarded a contract to Sensonic IN India Private Limited for the deployment of an advanced elephant detection system, also known as the Gajraj system, on East Coast Railway routes.
- Incorporating state-of-the-art technology: IR is developing artificial intelligence-based robots to monitor its railway tracks for enhanced safety and better operation of trains. Besides, it has collaborated with Herta Security for the deployment of facial recognition technology across its network.
- Policy modification: According to a modification in the policy for level crossings on new lines, gauge conversion, doubling and multi-tracking projects issued by the Railway Board, no level crossings will be included in the planning of new railway line projects. Any crossings already approved in ongoing projects will be removed.
- Enhancing the passenger experience at railway stations: IR has equipped 597 stations with amenities accessible to Divyangjan (people with disabilities). The facilities include lifts and escalators for easier travel and access to platforms. In February 2024, the centre laid the foundation stone for 554 railway stations to be developed under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with an investment of Rs 190 billion. The year 2024 witnessed the inauguration of two redeveloped stations, Gomti Nagar and Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.
- Introduction of hydrogen trains: GreenH Electrolysis Private Limited and Medha Servo Drives were awarded a contract to set up a hydrogen production and refuelling station in Jind, Haryana.
Initiatives to improve speed and freight performance
- Focus on indigenisation: IR has started manufacturing an indigenous bullet train, developed on the lines of Vande Bharat. The Integral Coach Factory at Chennai is designing the train, which will operate on the north, south and east corridors with an overall speed of 250 km per hour (kmph) and the ability to accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in just 52 seconds.
- Collaboration for technological innovation: Swisspod Technologies and TuTr Hyperloop, in collaboration with the Government of India and the Government of Switzerland, signed an MoU for sustainable and high speed transportation solutions in India through hyperloop technology. Meanwhile, Hindalco Industries Limited entered into a technology partnership with Italy-based Metra SpA to build high speed aluminium rail coaches in India. This collaboration will manufacture passenger coaches for the Vande Bharat Express trains.
- Securing funds to expedite progress: The Japan International Cooperation Agency signed a loan agreement with the Government of India to provide an official development assistance loan of Rs 226.27 billion for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail corridor project in December 2023.
- Boosting freight performance: IR achieved freight loading of 1,591 million tonnes during 2023-24. Also, construction work on 1,404 route km of the western dedicated freight corridor has been completed. More recently, six multi-tracking projects were approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, which will result in additional freight traffic of around 87 million tonnes per annum. Besides, three economic corridors – energy, mineral and cement corridors (192 projects), port connectivity corridors (42 projects) and high-traffic-density corridors (200 projects) – have been identified under the PM Gati Shakti Mission, for the purpose of multi modal connectivity.
