Indian Railways has been in news a lot lately. Be inauguration of new customer service facility or electrification of broad gauge tracks, they have been in the discussions. And now it seems like our Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi also might have given a new reason for Railways to come in limelight.
PM makes a big announcement
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Sunday, August 15, the Independence Day of India, that 75 ‘Vande Bharat’ trains will connect different parts of the country in 75 weeks to mark the ongoing ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
While speaking to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, he said that the way in which the UDAN scheme was connecting far-flung areas of the country and the speed at which new airports were being built, was unprecedented.
He further added, “The country has resolved that 75 Vande Bharat trains will be connecting every corner of the country in 75 weeks of ‘Amrit Mahotsav’ of Independence.”
It should be noted that the Vande Bharat Trains are the fastest trains running in the country, which is completely indigenous. There are currently two Vande Bharat trains running in the country, one from Varanasi to Delhi and another from Delhi to Katra
Medha, a Hyderabad-based engineering firm had secured the contract to supply the electrical systems for 44 Vande Bharat trains, in February this year. The firm has now been asked to advance its production plan, to make sure that at least two prototypes can be rolled out by next March following all trials.
Strengthening Railways in North Eastern Region is also a priority
The PM talked about boosting rail connectivity in the Northeast region, emphasizing its significance for the entire country.
Mr. Modi asserted, “Very soon the job of connecting the capital cities of the Northeastern States by rail will be completed.”
All Northeastern States, except Sikkim, are connected to the rail network. The capital cities of Assam, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh are already connected. The work to link the capital cities of Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya is still underway.
As the supply chains have already been disrupted because of the pandemic, connectivity to the region will take some time and will be achieved by the year 2024 only.
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