Vande Bharat Express has been flagged off in Kerala, with new routes to be opened up soon.
Latur the main manufacturing hub
The aim is to increase the overall connectivity between major cities of the nation.
In a bid to ensure continuous production of rakes for Vande Bharat Express, Latur-based Marathwada Railway Coach Factory has been roped in.
Union Minister Raosaheb Danve said that at minimum 120 advanced Vande Bharat trains will be manufactured at Marathwada Railway coach factory in Latur, and efforts are on to begin production by August.
Operations to soon begin
The tendering process for coach manufacturing is in the final stages and the contract will be finalized soon.
Danve said the Centre has sanctioned Rs 600 crore to set up the coach factory in Latur and efforts are on to begin operations at the earliest.
The contract process is underway with a consortium of Russia and Indian Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).
The actual coach production is expected to start by August.
Efforts ongoing
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced plans to launch 400 new Vande Bharat trains and of these, 120 will be manufactured in Latur.
If required, another 80 trains will also be made in this factory.
“The Central and state governments have been taking efforts for dualling, electrification, new railway lines and pending railway projects in the state.
The work on Wardha-Yavatmal-Nanded and Ahmednagar-Beed-Parli Vaijnath railway lines is underway,” Danve said.
The first stage of dualling of Manmad-Nanded line will get an approval soon, while the new Solapur-Tuljapur railway has already been approved.
