In a significant move to enhance passenger comfort, Indian Railways has announced an ambitious plan to produce approximately 10,000 non-air-conditioned coaches over the next two years. This initiative aims to meet the growing demand for rail services and improve the overall travel experience for passengers.
Production Plans for 2024-2025
According to railway officials, the production schedule for the fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26 includes a record number of over 5,300 general coaches. Specifically, in FY 2024-25, the Railways plan to manufacture:
- 2,605 general coaches, including Amrit Bharat General coaches
- 1,470 non-AC sleeper coaches, including Amrit Bharat sleeper coaches
- 323 SLR coaches, including Amrit Bharat SLR Coaches
- 32 High Capacity Parcel Vans
- 55 pantry cars
Plans for 2025-2026
For FY 2025-26, the production targets are set to:
- 2,710 general coaches, including Amrit Bharat General coaches
- 1,910 non-AC sleeper coaches, including Amrit Bharat sleeper coaches
- 514 SLR coaches, including Amrit Bharat SLR coaches
- 200 High Capacity Parcel Vans
- 110 pantry cars
Addressing Dynamic Demand
The dynamic nature of rail service demand, influenced by seasonal variations and passenger traffic growth, drives the need for these additional coaches. The Railways’ Coach Production Programme is designed to be flexible and responsive to these changing requirements, ensuring that production aligns with demand.
Ministerial Oversight
In related news, Union Minister of State for Railways, Ravneet Singh Bittu, conducted a surprise inspection of the Railway Board canteen on Thursday. The visit, timed with the lunch hour, allowed the Minister to review the facilities and services firsthand. Accompanied by the Secretary of the Railway Board and other senior officials, MoS Bittu interacted with the canteen manager and staff to understand the operations and service standards.