Vande Bharat trains and Amrit stations are creating a new form of railways

Ministry of Railways//Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsavg20-India-2023//Posted Date: 06 October 2024 at 5:42 PM by PIB Delhi

Shri Ashwini Vaishnav explained the new face of railway in India

Rs 14700 crore allocated for the development of railways in Madhya Pradesh 

New Delhi: 06 October 2024: (PIB Delhi//Rail Screen Desk)::

Union Minister of Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnav, today inaugurated the newly constructed railway section after gauge conversion between Jaura Alapur and Kailaras stations in Madhya Pradesh through video conferencing and flagged off the extended service of three new trains on the gauge converted rail section. This inauguration ceremony was organized at Jaura Alapur Railway Station in Madhya Pradesh. Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Speaker of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly Shri Narendra Singh Tomar and Morena MP Shri Shivmangal Singh Tomar were present at the function.

Addressing the people present at the venue through video conferencing, Railway Minister Ashwini Shri Vaishnav said that railways is the vehicle of the poor and the middle class. To provide better facilities to the general public, orders have been given to manufacture 12,500 general and sleeper coaches. He said that work is being done to give a new look to Indian Railways through Vande Bharat Express, Namo Bharat Rapid Rail and Vande Bharat Sleeper Train. He said that in the period from 2004 to 14, an average provision of Rs 632 crore was made for the development of railways in Madhya Pradesh, but under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, a provision of Rs 14,700 crore has been made for the development of railways in Madhya Pradesh in this year's budget.

Union Minister Shri Vaishnav said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Railway Administration is constantly striving to make Indian Railways convenient and comfortable for the common man. North Central Railway is also working rapidly in this direction. He said that Gwalior Chambal region is very important from the railway point of view. It is well connected through train services to all parts of the country including the four metropolitan cities of the country. We are trying to make this connection more strong. These efforts of ours always get the support of Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Shri Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia ji, Speaker of Legislative Assembly Madhya Pradesh Shri Narendra Singh Tomar ji, Honorable MP Morena Shri Shivmangal Singh Tomar ji. He said that the state of Madhya Pradesh has a central role in the rail map of India. The state has seen significant progress in its rail infrastructure, which reflects the national trend of increasing investment in this sector. In the last 10 years, 222 km of new rail line projects, 1200 km of multi-tracking projects and 707 km of gauge conversion projects have been completed in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Along with improving connectivity in Madhya Pradesh, security has also been increased by using drones and GPS trackers for disaster management and project monitoring. This work has been done for the first time in India. Along with providing passenger services, Gwalior and Khajuraho stations are also being redeveloped.

In the program, the Union Railway Minister informed that the Gwalior-Sheopurkala (188 kms) gauge conversion project is going to be completed at a cost of Rs. 2355/- crore, in which a total of 61 km track work has been completed so far, the remaining work is going on at a fast pace, which will be completed as soon as possible and this upgraded service will be available to the people of the area. This new 13 km section has been constructed at a cost of Rs 163 crore. Under this project, the work of gauge conversion under entire Sheopurkalan will be completed by July 2025 next year.

With this, the Railway Minister expressed hope that the start of this project will help in socio-economic development of Morena district of Madhya Pradesh, industrial development in the region and providing infrastructure for employment opportunities, as well as reducing the cost of transportation of goods and increasing the number of trains and ease of transportation of goods will promote economic development. This line will soon be extended to Kota.

Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia said that today Jaura is getting such a gift, which the people of this region were dreaming of for a long time. The work of bringing revolution in railways has been done by Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnav under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Indian Railways is also continuously developing in the Northeast. Railway lines have been laid in 6 states of the Northeast. Today a new history is being written in the development of Madhya Pradesh with this gauge conversion. Now we are eagerly waiting for this railway line to be extended to Kota. In his address at the programme, the Speaker of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Mr Narendra Singh Tomar said that the people of the region have struggled for a long time for this gauge conversion. Today, with the expansion of this rail service, Jaura Alapur and Kailaras will be connected to the mainstream of development. Hon'ble MP Morena, Mr Shivmangal Singh Tomar expressed his gratitude to the Railway Minister and said that the people of the region are very happy with the start of this MEMU train. We hope that this development journey will continue.

The guests were welcomed on the stage by the Additional General Manager of North Central Railway, Mr J.S. Lakra and Divisional Railway Manager Mr Deepak Kumar Sinha. Welcoming the guests, Divisional Railway Manager Mr Deepak Kumar Sinha said that with the operation of this rail service, the people of the region will be able to connect with Kota in future via Gwalior-Sheopur. This gauge conversion is a living example that Jhansi Division is always striving to realize the spirit of "Customer Service with a Smile". On this occasion, MLA of Sabalgarh Smt. Sarla Bijendra Rawat, District Panchayat President Smt. Aarti Gurjar along with eminent citizens of the area, Jhansi Division Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Aman Verma along with various officers of the Division and respected citizens were present.

*****//Dharmendra Tiwari/Shatrunjay Kumar//(Release ID: 2062646)

First AC car provides shower with hot water-Vande Bharat

Ministry of Railways//Posted On: 03 OCT 2024 6:10 PM//PIB Delhi

Pleasant rail journey: Story of Vande Bharat Express 

New Delhi: 03 October 2024: (PIB//Rail Screen Desk):

The Government of India has made significant efforts towards strengthening the 'Make in India' campaign. As an excellent example of the success story of 'Make in India', Indian Railways launched India's first indigenous semi-high-speed train, Vande Bharat Express. It has become a symbol of India's aspirations for modern, efficient and comfortable rail travel.

On February 15, 2019, the first Vande Bharat Express train running at a speed of 160 kmph on the New Delhi-Kanpur-Allahabad-Varanasi route was flagged off. Indian Railways is operating a total of 102 Vande Bharat train services (51 trains), connecting states with Broad Gauge (BG) electrified network. During FY 2022-23, around 31.84 lakh were booked to travel on Vande Bharat trains. The overall occupancy of Vande Bharat trains during this period has been 96.62%.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 31, 2024 flagged off three Vande Bharat trains through video conferencing, which will enhance connectivity in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. These state-of-the-art trains, embodying the Prime Minister's vision of 'Make in India' and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, will improve transport links on three major routes (Meerut City-Lucknow, Madurai-Bengaluru, Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil).

Vande Bharat trains will provide a world-class travel experience to the residents of these regions by ensuring speed as well as comfort. These trains are equipped with top-class amenities and advanced safety features such as Kavach technology, 360-degree rotating seats, accessible toilets for Divyangjans and integrated Braille signage, etc.

Meerut City-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express

Meerut City-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express is the first Vande Bharat service connecting Meerut to Lucknow. The train is expected to give a major boost to religious tourism in the region by providing a faster and more efficient travel option to various pilgrimage sites including Digambar Jain Temple, Mansa Devi Temple, Surajkund Temple, Aughadnath Temple and Hanuman Chowk Temple in Meerut and Chandrika Devi Temple, Bhootnath Temple and Buddheshwar Mahadev Temple in Lucknow. Additionally, the Vande Bharat Express will provide a major boost to industries such as sports goods, musical instruments, sugar and electronics in the Meerut region by improving quick connectivity to the capital of Uttar Pradesh.

Madurai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express

Madurai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express is the first Vande Bharat train connecting Madurai to Bengaluru via the Tiruchirapalli route. This service will connect the vibrant temple city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu to the metropolitan city of Bengaluru, the capital of the state of Karnataka. Additionally, it will provide convenient travel for business professionals, students, working personnel and other passengers travelling from their hometowns in Tamil Nadu to the metropolitan hub of Bengaluru.

Chennai Egmore- Nagercoil Vande Bharat

Chennai Egmore- Nagercoil Vande Bharat is the first Vande Bharat train connecting the beautiful city of Nagercoil to Chennai. Covering a distance of 726 km within Tamil Nadu, this train offers a modern and faster travel experience to residents of 12 districts including Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar Madurai, Dindigul, Trichy, Perambalur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Chengalpattu and Chennai. This service will also greatly benefit pilgrims visiting the divine Arulmighu Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai and Kumari Amman Temple in Kanyakumari.

India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset at BEML's Bangalore Rail Complex on September 1, 2024. The trainset has been indigenously designed and manufactured by BEML, India's leading rail and metro manufacturer.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper train set is expected to revolutionise long-distance rail travel in India and set new benchmarks for comfort, safety and efficiency. The train is equipped with several world-class features, including an integrated reading light with USB charging provision, public announcement and visual information system, inside display panels and security cameras, modular pantry and exclusive berths and toilets for differently-abled passengers.

Additionally, the First AC car offers shower with hot water, enhancing passenger comfort. Meticulously engineered with utmost detailing, the trainset prioritises both aesthetic appeal and functionality in all elements from the front nose cone to the interior panels, seats, sleeper berths and more.

BEML has pioneered the integration of critical systems including electrical, propulsion, bogies, external plug doors, brake system and HVAC, ensuring seamless integration and maximum performance across the trainset. The entire manufacturing and assembly process is consolidated at BEML, underlining the company's commitment to quality and precision.

Conclusion

Vande Bharat Express has revolutionised rail travel in India by offering a unique combination of speed, comfort and safety. With the continued expansion of this service, Indian Railways aims to further enhance connectivity across the country, contribute to economic growth and regional development.

The success of Vande Bharat Express is a testimony to India's capabilities in indigenous manufacturing and is an important step towards realising the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.

Santosh Kumar/Sheetal Angral/Ritu Kataria/Aswathi Nair//(Backgrounder ID: 153234)

PM will flag off three Vande Bharat trains on 31 August

 Posted Date: 30 August 2024, 2:59 PM, PIB Delhi

Tourism will get a new direction with better connectivity and faster speed

PIB file photo

New Delhi: 30 August 2024: (PIB//The Rail Screen Desk)::

Who doesn't like a fast and comfortable journey? The people of India have been dreaming of this for a long time. The new Vande Bharat trains are now giving a new direction to better connectivity, faster travel, and tourism in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will dedicate three new Vande Bharat Express trains to the nation through video conferencing on August 31, 2024 at 12:30 pm. These trains are the embodiment of the Prime Minister's vision of 'Make in India' and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, which will provide better connectivity and faster travel experience in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

The new Vande Bharat trains will run on Meerut-Lucknow, Madurai-Bengaluru, and Chennai-Nagercoil routes. These trains will reduce travel time significantly compared to the current options due to their high speed. Meerut City-Lucknow Vande Bharat will save about 1 hour, Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil Vande Bharat will save about 2 hours, and Madurai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat will save about 1.5 hours.

Vande Bharat trains will provide world-class services to passengers and meet the long-standing demands of the people of the region. These state-of-the-art trains will not only revolutionize transportation but will also give a boost to tourism and business in three major states - Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

The launch of the new Vande Bharat Express trains will usher in a new era in railway service for regional assssssss, professionals, businessmen, and students who will be able to experience fast, convenient, and comfortable travel. 

With the introduction of such high-speed trains, a new history is being created for Indian Railways and you all are here to witness it. It is not easy to make such dreams come true.

RPF caught YouTuber for dangerous railway track stunt

 Posted Date: 02 Aug 2024 4:00 PM by PIB Delhi

RPF DG appealed to citizens not to get involved in illegal activities and report any such act

Symbolic Images Created with AI Playground Team

New Delhi: 02 August 2024: (PIB//Rail Screen Desk)::

Earlier, such acts were done by illiterate youth only to show their foolishness. Then when the selfie culture started, similar boys started risking their lives to take selfies on the banks of rivers, canals and streams. Such stupid bravery started being shown by standing at the door of moving trains. Many boys lost their lives in these cycles. Those who survived also got serious injuries. Now some YouTubers have started showing the stupidity of playing with similar dangers. To prevent such incidents, security forces personnel have started performing their duties with full alertness.

In a major crackdown on reckless behaviour, the Railway Protection Force has apprehended a YouTuber for endangering public safety by criminal tampering with railway tracks for publicity. Viral videos on Twitter had shown a person placing various kinds of objects on railway tracks, prompting an urgent investigation. The culprit, Gulzar Sheikh has uploaded more than 250 videos on his YouTube channel and has over 2 lakhs subscribers. His on-camera activities posed a significant risk to both railway safety and operations.

Through a detailed analysis of Sheikh's YouTube profile and social media presence, RPF Unchahar, Northern Railway registered the offence under various provisions of the Railway Act on 01/08/2024. On the same day, a joint team of RPF and Local Police arrested Mr. Gulzar Sheikh, son of Syed Ahmed from his residence in Khandrauli Village, Soraon (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh.

While appreciating RPF, Lucknow Division for the prompt and effective action, DG RPF emphasized that legal action against Mr. Gulzar Sheikh would serve as a strong deterrent to persons attempting to compromise the safety of Indian Railways. He reiterated the importance of railway safety and assured the public that any attempts to undermine rail safety will be met with firm resolve and strict legal action and those engaging in such activities will be prosecuted to ensure maximum punishment.

DG RPF also appealed to the public not to indulge in such activities and report any acts which compromise the railway security and safety. Such information can be given to the Railway Protection Force or on Rail Madad through the toll-free helpline number 139.

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Significant step towards combating human trafficking

Posted On: 19 MAR 2024 9:00 PM by PIB Delhi

NCW and RPF signed a MoU for the purpose 

New Delhi: 19th March 2024: (Media Link//PIB//The Rail Screen Desk)::

Situation on female human trafficking is still serious. Human trafficking remains a significant issue in India, with women and girls disproportionately affected. India is one of the major source, transit, and destination countries for trafficking.

In a significant step towards combating human trafficking, the National Commission for Women (NCW) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Through this collaborative effort, both organizations pledged to provide training and sensitize RPF officials to effectively address the problems of women trafficking within the Indian Railway network.

The National Commission for Women and the Railway Protection Force came together to announce a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening efforts to combat human trafficking across India. The MOU was signed by NCW Joint Secretary A Asholi Chalai and RPF Inspector General Sarvapriya Mayank. It underscores the commitment of both organizations to tackle the grave issue of human trafficking, especially within the extensive network of Indian Railways.

The initiative comes as a response to the alarming statistics revealing that 70% of trafficked victims are women, highlighting the urgent need for concerted action to protect the most vulnerable in society. NCW, which established an Anti-Human Trafficking Cell on April 2, 2022, has already been working with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to combat the trafficking of women.

“Women and young girls are particularly vulnerable to trafficking”, stated Smt. Rekha Sharma, Chairperson of NCW. “The vast railway network of Indian Railway, spanning over 65,000 kilometers and 7,500 stations, unfortunately, serves as a conduit for traffickers. RPF personnel stationed at railway stations play a pivotal role in preventing human trafficking and can act as the eyes and ears of the commission in addressing crimes against women”.  

The key objectives of the MOU encompass collaborative efforts to prevent human trafficking and rescue of trafficked women. This involves conducting sensitization workshops and training sessions for RPF personnel to enhance their awareness and prompt response to human trafficking incidents. Additionally, awareness campaigns will be launched targeting frontline railway staff and the general public to educate them about the signs of human trafficking and how to report such cases effectively.

Under the MoU, RPF personnel will receive ongoing sensitization and training, empowering them to remain alert and vigilant in identifying and reporting suspicious activities. This collaboration aims to enhance the capabilities of RPF personnel, enabling them to serve as an additional layer of defense against human trafficking.

Highlighting the ongoing effort of RPF aimed at preventing trafficking of women and girls through railways Sh. Manoj Yadava Director General (RPF) expressed hope that this effort will boost the capacity of RPF to combat crime against women.

This partnership between NCW and RPF signifies a significant step forward in the collective efforts to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable women across India's railway network.

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Now Wifi facility provided at 6108 railway stations

Posted On: 29 March 2023 at 4:29 PM by PIB Delhi

151 Railway Stations of Punjab also included

New Delhi: 29th March 2023: (PIB//The Rail Screen)::

Indian Railways have decided to provide free Wi-Fi at all railway stations except halt. So far, Wi-Fi facility has been provided at 6108 stations. State-wise list is appended. The provision of Wi-Fi at stations depends upon the availability of Infrastructure like Optical Fiber Cable & Other resources.

Indian Railways is committed to make all its railway stations and trains accessible for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) as part of “Sugamya Bharat Mission”. Improvement/ augmentation of customer amenities including those for differently abled passengers (Divyangjan) at Railway stations is a continuous process.

Expenditure incurred for customer Amenities during each of the last three years & current year is as under:

APPENDIX

State-wise list of stations where Wi-Fi facility provided till date: -

This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronic & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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Indian Railways completes 100% electrification of Odisha

Posted On: 22 MAR 2023 4:26 PM by PIB Delhi

 Electrification will reduce line haul cost by 2.5 times

The existing Broad Gauge network of Odisha (2,822 Route kms) is now 100% electrified

New Delhi//Bhubaneswar: 22nd March 2023: (PIB//The Rail Screen)::

On the lines of setting the target of achieving Net Zero Carbon Emitter by 2030, the Indian Railways has 100% electrified existing Broad Gauge network of Odisha. The existing Broad Gauge network of Odisha is 2,822 Route kilometre, which is 100% electrified, resulting in saving on account of reduced line haul cost (about 2.5 times lower), heavier haulage capacity, increased sectional capacity, reduced operating & maintenance cost of electric loco, energy efficient and eco-friendly mode of transportation with reduced dependence on imported crude oil, saving of foreign exchange.  Further, new Broad Gauge network shall be sanctioned along with electrification, in sync with Railways’ policy of 100% electrified network. 

Odisha state’s territory falls in the jurisdiction of East Coast, South Eastern & South East Central Railways. Some of the major railway stations in Odisha are: Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Sambalpur, Bhadrak, Rourkela, and Jharsuguda. The railway network plays an important role in the transportation of minerals, agricultural products, and other goods from Odisha to other parts of the country.

First railway line in Odisha was constructed between Cuttack - Khurda Road - Puri in 1897.

Some of the prestigious trains of Odisha state are: Howrah-Puri Express, Konark Express, Coromandel Express, Hirakud Express, Visakha Express, and Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express. These trains provide convenient connectivity to various parts of the state and other major cities in India.

***YB/DNS//(Release ID: 1909547