Indian Railways to augment infra, double train capacity: Vaishnaw

Indian Railways plans to double the capacity for originating new trains in major cities within the next five years to meet growing travel demand. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said infrastructure will be augmented to reduce congestion and upgrade the network.

In view of the rapid, sustained growth in demand for travel, the capacity of major cities to originate new trains needs to be doubled from the current level in the next five years. The current infrastructure needs to be augmented to meet the requirements of the coming years.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, said, "We're expanding coaching terminals, enhancing sectional and operational capacities in various cities to meet rising passenger demand and reduce congestion. This move will upgrade our railway network and improve nationwide connectivity.''

Plan to Double Capacity by 2030

Meanwhile, the works for doubling the originating capacity by the year 2030 would include: Augmenting the current terminals with additional platforms, stabling lines, pit lines, and adequate shunting facilities; Identifying and creating new terminals in and around the urban area; Maintenance facilities, including mega coaching complexes; Increasing the sectional capacity with traffic facility works, signaling upgradation, and multitracking required for handling increased trains at various points.

Holistic Station Development

While planning to increase terminal capacity, stations around the terminals will also be considered to ensure capacity is evenly balanced. For example, Pune, Hadapsar, Khadki, and Alandi have been considered for increased capacity, including additional platforms and stabling lines at Pune station.

The above exercise will be conducted for both suburban and non-suburban traffic, taking into account the distinct requirements of each segment.

Focus on 48 Major Cities

A comprehensive plan of the 48 major cities is under consideration. The plan will include the works planned, proposed, or already sanctioned to achieve the goal of doubling the capacity to handle trains within a time-bound timeframe.

Phased Implementation and Timelines

While the plan is to double capacity by 2030, capacity is expected to increase progressively over the next five years, so the benefits of the addition can be realised immediately. This will help in meeting the traffic requirement progressively over the years.

The plan will classify actions under three categories, i.e., immediate, short-term, and long-term. The proposed plans will be specific, with clear timelines and defined outcomes.

Zonal Railway Mandate for Network-Wide Enhancement

While this exercise focuses on specific stations, each Zonal Railway has been asked to plan to increase train handling capacity across their divisions, ensuring that not only terminal capacity is enhanced but also sectional capacity and operational constraints at stations and yards are effectively addressed.

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