Indian Railways unveils ambitious Rs 2 lakh crore expansion plan

In a strategic move to boost the nation’s rail infrastructure, Indian Railways has disclosed an extensive production plan that could propel Mumbai, Chennai, and Patna into a realm of economic growth exceeding Rs 2 lakh crore over the next seven years.
The railway giant has announced the production of 102 Vande Bharat Rakes, with 35 slated for the fiscal year 2022-2023 and an additional 67 for 2023-2024. These cutting-edge rakes will be manufactured within Indian Railways production units, including Integral Coach Factory, Rail Coach Factory, and Modern Coach Factory. Out of the total, 75 Vande Bharat rakes are designated as Chair Car versions, while the rest will be configured as Sleeper versions.
Furthermore, Indian Railways is set to manufacture 400 Vande Bharat trains (Sleeper version) featuring three distinct technologies. Tenders have already been floated to identify technology partners for in-house manufacturing within Indian Railways Production Units. An additional proposal in the Budget for 2023-24 outlines the creation of 8000 Vande Bharat Coaches.
Both domestic and global players in the rail sector are expressing optimism about the “Make in India” initiative, with some companies contemplating the shift to ‘design and develop’ in India for export purposes. Dr. Jonathan Paddison, Member of the Board of Directors at Knorr-Bremse Asia Pacific (Holding) Ltd., emphasised the company’s commitment to investing in Indian facilities and expanding operations. He stated, “We want to harness that power to export more and more.”
Commending Indian Railways’ focus on completing and commissioning dedicated freight corridors, launching world-class Vande Bharat Trains, expanding railway tracks, and upgrading stations, Mr. Dipankar Ghosh, Chairman of CII Railway Transport and Equipment Division, expressed pride in the industry’s rapid progress. He noted that the combination of the “Make in India” initiative and the government’s focus on execution is proving to be a game-changer for both Indian Railways and the industry.