The Economic Survey 2024-25 states that in FY25 so far, the expansion of the railway network has maintained a pace similar to the previous year, while there has been a significant increase in the addition of rolling stock. From April to October 2024, 17 new pairs of Vande Bharat trains were launched, and a total of 228 coaches were manufactured.
Economic Survey 2024-25: Key Railway Projects
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project, a major railway initiative, has been allocated a revised budget of Rs 1.08 lakh crore. By October 2024, the project had made 47.17% physical progress, with Rs 67,486 crore spent so far.
Dedicated Freight Corridor
Additionally, as of November 2024, 2,741 km of the proposed 2,843 km Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) network has been completed. The DFCs have significantly transformed India’s logistics sector, allowing for increased freight transportation without any interference from passenger trains.
Renewable Energy Capacity to achieve 30 GW
Also, Indian Railways aims to achieve 30 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2029-30. As of October 2024, the railways has already commissioned 375 MW of solar energy and 103 MW of wind energy.
Focus on railway station infrastructure and modernisation of locomotives
Indian Railways is focusing on improving passenger experience with initiatives like station redevelopment, catering services, and support for local artisans.
- The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme aims to redevelop 1,337 stations, with work underway at 1,197 of them.
- 50 PMBJKs were established on railway station premises, and 18 new ones were inaugurated on November 13, 2024, to provide affordable healthcare services.
- A new policy for mobile catering led to the creation of 557 Base Kitchens serving 468 pairs of trains.
- The One Station One Product Scheme is operational at 1,900 stations, supporting 79,380 local artisans through 2,163 outlets.
- Passenger amenities have been enhanced with Train Indication Boards at 1,351 stations, Coach Guidance Systems at 866 stations, and Wi-Fi at 6,112 stations.
Improving Indian Railways’ Signalling and Safety system
Indian Railways is upgrading its signalling and safety systems to improve operational efficiency and safety across its network.
- Mechanical signalling is being replaced with Electrical/Electronic Interlocking systems, with 25 out of 62 stations upgraded in FY25.
- Kavach, the indigenously developed Automated Train Protection system, received Rs 1,547 crore in investment until November 2024, with version 4.0 approved in July 2024.
- Electronic Interlocking (EI) systems have been installed at 227 stations in FY25, bringing the total to 3,576 stations.
- The first Direct Drive Interlocking system was commissioned in November 2024 at Tajpur station.
- Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) is being implemented on high-density routes, with 720 route kilometres completed this fiscal year, reaching a total of 4,906 kilometres.
- A new Signal Design Automation tool for electronic interlocking was released in version 5.0 on September 19, 2024, automating route control chart generation.
President Murmu highlights Udhampur-Baramulla-Srinagar rail project
President Droupadi Murmu announced on Friday that the Udhampur-Baramulla-Srinagar rail project is now complete, linking Kashmir to Kanyakumari by rail. Speaking during the joint session of Parliament, President Murmu praised the Railway Ministry for its accomplishments, emphasizing the significance of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail connection.
She highlighted the construction of the Chenab Bridge, now the world’s highest railway bridge, as a major milestone in the project. Additionally, the Anji Bridge, India’s first rail cable bridge, was also completed. The President further noted the operational rollout of 71 Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat, and Namo Bharat trains, with 17 new Vande Bharat trains and one Namo Bharat train introduced in the past six months.