Shakur Basti Vande Bharat Depot Becomes Benchmark for Indian Railways (Source: X)
Delhi’s Shakur Basti maintenance depot, built for servicing Vande Bharat trains, has now become a model for the entire Indian Railways system. Impressed by its efficiency and standards, the Railway Board has instructed every zone that operates Vande Bharat Express trains to study the functioning of this depot and adapt its best practices.
In a recent communication to zonal railways, officials said that as the number of Vande Bharat trains continues to grow, maintenance facilities across India must match the technical capabilities, safety measures, and workflow efficiency demonstrated by the Shakur Basti unit.
Set up when the first Vande Bharat train was launched in 2019, the Shakur Basti depot initially handled the maintenance of that single train.
Today, it is responsible for the daily upkeep of three Vande Bharat trainsets, all of which operate with consistently high reliability.
The depot maintains not only Vande Bharat trains but also DEMU rakes, with support from:
modern machinery
automated maintenance tools
upgraded inspection bays
It has also been chosen to maintain India’s first hydrogen-powered trains and the new Vande Bharat sleeper coaches, highlighting its growing strategic importance.
The static infrastructure of the depot is built around three main components:
Inside its four-level inspection and service shed, the depot houses two lines measuring 420 metres by 20 metres each. These are fitted with:
a 1.5-metre-deep central pit for examining the undergear
roof-level catwalks with retractable overhead equipment (OHE)
interior platforms for easy access
compressed air lines
overhead cranes for lifting heavy machinery
The retractable OHE system includes a safety interlock mechanism and can rotate up to 85 degrees, allowing technicians to work safely.
Solar-based illumination enhances visibility and improves safety during repair and cleaning work.
The depot operates under the Northern Railway division. During the COVID-19 crisis, it also served a humanitarian purpose by accommodating coaches that had been converted into isolation wards for patients.
With more than 150 Vande Bharat Express services now running across India, several railway zones have created their own depots. However, officers from different parts of the country are visiting Shakur Basti, observing its systems, and preparing to replicate its standards in their respective zones.
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