Indian Railways to procure new trains amounting to Rs 1 lakh crore

Soon you may bid farewell to waitlisting as Indian Railways unveils a comprehensive plan to procure new trains amounting to Rs 1 lakh crore.

Reportedly, the primary goal is to address the rising demand for passenger travel while phasing out outdated rolling stock, necessitating the acquisition of approximately 7,000-8,000 new train sets. Tenders for this ambitious endeavour are slated to be issued over the next 4-5 years.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to modernize and enhance the efficiency of Indian Railways. The objective is to augment the availability of trains for both passengers and cargo by optimizing tracks and increasing the frequency of trips.

Currently operating 10,754 daily train trips, Indian Railways plans to add an additional 3,000 trips to eliminate waiting lists. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Railways has already increased its daily trips by 568 compared to pre-pandemic levels. This expansion enables the annual transportation of 700 crore passengers, a figure expected to rise to 1,000 crore by 2030. To achieve this, a 30% increase in the number of trips is deemed essential to eliminate passenger waitlisting, excluding peak demand months, by the end of the decade.

Emphasizing the magnitude of the investment required, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reportedly highlighted that nearly Rs 12 lakh crore would be needed in the Indian Railways to accommodate the anticipated economic growth by 2030.

To expedite capital spending, the Railways has implemented significant structural and procedural reforms, ensuring the effective utilization of the allocated capital budget. This budget is earmarked for the comprehensive modernization of crucial infrastructure components, including trains, tracks, safety technology and stations.