Improve production processes or face debarment, Vaishnaw to Railway equipment manufacturers

“We have to improve the specifications also. Whether it is signaling, track, locomotive and coaches manufacturing equipment, we have to significantly improve the quality of the components and specifications which are applied to them. Since this is the gathering of equipment suppliers, that is why I am making this point very clearly that please be prepared for improving the specifications, technology, checks, inspections,” said Vaishnaw.

The Railways Minister also said that the manufacturers should target new technologies on every aspect of Railways like KAVACH, which made Railways self-reliant in the Automatic Train Protection system.

He also announced the plans to develop dedicated passenger corridors, where trains will have 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 as part of Government’s Viksit Bharat vision by 2047, which targets the development of around 7,000 km of dedicated routes.

“…This will also become a standard system for all the passenger corridors. Most of these passenger corridors will be designed for 350 kmph speed. Many more such corridors will be constructed in the country. In our Viksit Bharat vision, we have kept a target of about 7000 kms to be constructed by 2047. So this will have our own signaling and OCC (Operations Control Centre). The capacity has to increase substantially,” said Vaishnaw.

He also said that India is currently operating Vande Bharat 3.0 and Vande Bharat 4.0 is expected to be launched within the next 18 months, which will be on par with global benchmarks in performance and passenger experience. The new version will focus on enhancing toilets, improving seats, and elevating the overall workmanship of the coaches.

The Railways minister also announced that Amrit Bharat version 3.0, a special train for Sleeper and general class passengers, is under development based on push-pull technology, which will be suitable for long-distance journeys.