Indian Railways is preparing to enhance the speed and efficiency of trains on the country’s primary rail routes, including Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Kolkata, Delhi-Chennai, Mumbai-Kolkata, Chennai-Kolkata, and Mumbai-Chennai. This ambitious plan involves laying new rail lines, as well as doubling and adding third and fourth lines to eliminate bottlenecks.
Enhancing Rail Capacity and Speed
The key objective of this upgrade is to increase the average speed of both passenger and freight trains. This infrastructure expansion is expected to result in significant savings and environmental benefits. Indian Railways estimates that this plan could save approximately ₹1.28 lakh crore annually in fuel costs and reduce carbon emissions by 43 million tons.
Benefits of the Upgrade
- Improved Punctuality: The enhanced rail network will ensure that passenger trains arrive on time, thereby improving the overall reliability of train services.
- Increased Revenue: Better punctuality and faster trains are expected to boost revenue from freight charges, as businesses will prefer the more reliable and quicker transport options.
- Passenger Convenience: The reduction in delays will enhance the travel experience for passengers, who will spend less time waiting and more time at their destinations.
Addressing Delays and Implementing New Policies
According to the Railway Board’s data, over 2.74 lakh passenger trains were delayed during 2022-23, with around 12,000 trains running daily. Delays ranging from two to six hours resulted in the wastage of over 4.5 lakh hours over the year. Under current railway rules, passengers are entitled to full refunds if a train is delayed by more than three hours.
In an effort to further streamline operations, a proposal to end concessions on major rail routes will be presented to the new government in June. Instead of a project-based approach, a program-based policy will be implemented to systematically remove these concessions.
Comprehensive Expansion Plans
The upgrade plan includes the addition of new rail lines, doubling existing tracks, and adding third and fourth lines over a total of 16,600 kilometers. Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) will be prepared for 208 programs, with loop lines being extended from 750 meters to 1500 meters. This extensive action plan is expected to require an investment of ₹8 to 10 lakh crore.
