Railways plan to develop 7,000 km of dedicated passenger corridors by 2047: Vaishnaw

New Delhi, Oct 15: Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Wednesday inaugurated the 16th International Railway Equipment Exhibition-2025, Asia’s largest and the world’s second-largest railway exhibition at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The Union Minister announced plans to develop dedicated passenger corridors, engineered for maximum speeds of up to 350 kmph with an operating speed of 320 kmph. He said that many such corridors will be constructed across the country, forming part of the Government’s Viksit Bharat vision, which targets the development of around 7,000 km of dedicated routes by 2047. These corridors will be equipped with indigenously developed signalling systems and modern Operations Control Centres (OCCs).
The Minister said that Vande Bharat is a huge success. On technical parameters, it matches with the best in the world. India is working on the next generation of high-speed trains, with a strong focus on the export market. He stated that India is currently operating Vande Bharat 3.0, which represents a significant improvement over its earlier versions. The Minister highlighted that Vande Bharat 3.0 already meets international benchmarks, capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 kmph in just 52 seconds—faster than many trains in Japan and Europe—while maintaining lower noise and vibration levels. He added that Vande Bharat 4.0 is expected to be launched within the next 18 months, aiming to set global benchmarks in every aspect of performance and passenger experience. The new version will focus on enhancing toilets, improving seats, and elevating the overall workmanship of the coaches. He said the goal is to establish Vande Bharat 4.0 as the global standard, a train so advanced in quality and comfort that countries around the world would aspire to adopt it.
The Minister also discussed the progress of Amrit Bharat trains. He noted that Amrit Bharat 2.0 is operational, while version 3.0 is under development based on push-pull technology—suitable for long-distance journeys. The Minister stated that Amrit Bharat 4.0 will feature next-generation trainsets and locomotives. He added that within the next 36 months, the new-generation passenger locomotives are expected to be designed, manufactured, and ready for testing.
The Union Minister said that in the last 11 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, special focus has been given to the modernization and expansion of Indian Railways. For this, the Railway budget has been continuously increased. In the last 11 years, more than 35,000 kilometres of new tracks have been laid and 46,000 kilometres of electrification has been completed. He informed that on the world stage, Indian Railways is now also emerging as a major exporter. Rail engines manufactured in India are being exported to Africa, Australia, and many other countries.
The Union Minister informed that 156 Vande Bharat services, 30 Amrit Bharat services, and 4 Namo Bharat services are now running across India. He stated that in the year 2024-25, a record more than 7,000 coaches, approximately 42,000 wagons, and 1,681 locomotives were produced. Along with this, the country’s first 9,000 HP electric locomotive was inaugurated, while 12,000 HP locomotives are already in operation.
Vaishnaw also said that Indian Railways, which serves more than 20 million passengers daily, has now become the world’s second-largest network in freight transport, surpassing the US. He said the bullet train project is progressing rapidly and the Dedicated Freight Corridor work has been 99% completed. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, more than 1,300 railway stations across the country are being redeveloped.
Indian Railways has constructed several remarkable infrastructure projects, including the Chenab Bridge, 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower, India’s first vertical lift Sea Bridge at Pamban, and the Bairabi Sairang bridge, 42 metres taller than Qutub Minar. Priority is being given to safety and technological innovation in railways. For this, a budget of Rs 1.16 lakh crore has been allocated for the current financial year, which also includes the indigenous safety system KAVACH.
During the event, Railway Board Chairman and CEO,. Satish Kumar and Vice-Chancellor of Gati Shakti University, Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Choudhary, were among the dignitaries present. The exhibition, based on the theme ‘Future-Ready Railways’, is being organized at Bharat Mandapam from 15th to 17th October 2025. The event features participation from over 450 exhibitors representing more than 15 countries displaying modern rail and metro products, innovations, and sustainable solutions. (PIB)