The Centre on Tuesday announced four hundred new Vande Bharat trains will be manufactured over the next three years. “Four hundred new-generation Vande Bharat trains with better energy efficiency and passenger riding experience will be developed and manufactured during the next three years,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in her Budget speech.
These new train sets are going to be made of light-weight aluminum, as opposed to steel, making each around 50 tonnes lighter, consuming much less energy than their steel counterparts, she said.
Railways Ministry officials said they are already manufacturing 44 Vande Bharat trains in order to have these trains running on at least 75 routes by August 15, 2023, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech. While the FM said the trains will be manufactured and developed over the next three years, it is not clear when they will be operational.
She also said 100 PM GatiShakti Cargo Terminals for multi-modal logistics facilities will be developed in next three years.
“Railways will develop new products and efficient logistics services for small farmers and small and medium enterprises, besides taking the lead in integration of postal and railways networks to provide seamless solutions for movement of parcels
“One Station-One Product concept will be popularised to help local businesses and supply chains,” she said. As a part of Atmanirbhar Bharat, 2,000 km network will be brought under ‘Kavach’, the indigenous world-class technology for safety and capacity augmentation in 2022-23,” she said.
“Innovative ways of financing and faster implementation will be encouraged for building metro systems of appropriate type at scale. Multi-modal connectivity between mass urban transport and railway stations will be facilitated on priority.
“Design of metro systems, including civil structures, will be re-oriented and standardized for Indian conditions and needs,” she said.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw welcomed the people oriented announcements, including enhancements of super class trains. “The integration of posts and railways will bring better logistics solutions for people living in remote areas,” Vaishnaw said at a Press conference. He also said that the railways will introduce new products and services for small farmers and businesses.