Time not far when India’s first bullet train will be operational: PM
NEW DELHI/ JAMMU: Expressing optimism about India’s progress in putting high-speed rail transport on track, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that the time is not far for the country’s first bullet train to become operational.
His remarks came during a virtual event to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for multiple railway projects across Telangana, Odisha, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Underlining the “rising” demand for high-speed trains from across the country and the sector’s “historic transformation” under his government in the past decade, PM Modi said the transformation in rail transport has led to a change in India’s image and a boost in people’s morale.
In a video message with the chief ministers of Telangana, Odisha, and Jammu and Kashmir, besides other dignitaries, joining the programme from their respective states, he said that people increasingly want to spend less time covering long distances, leading to a rise in the demand for high-speed trains.
More than 136 Vande Bharat trains are running on over 50 routes, he said, referring to a recent trial run in which the train clocked a speed of 180 kilometres per hour.
“The time when the first bullet train will run in India is not far.”
With PM Modi launching a number of infrastructure projects in the past few days, he said India maintained a fast pace in connectivity in the new year. It is a big day in “new-age connectivity” for many parts of the country, he said of the projects launched on Monday. The Prime Minister asserted that the modernisation of infrastructure, providing modern amenities to passengers, boosting connectivity to all parts of the country, and supporting employment and industry were the ideas guiding the development in the rail sector. He also gave details of the expansion of the Metro network and changes brought in by the Railways. PM Modi virtually inaugurated a new railway division in Jammu under the Northern Railway, aimed at enhancing connectivity in the northernmost regions of India, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh.
He congratulated the people of Jammu and Kashmir, emphasising that integrating J&K into the national railway network is a significant milestone in transforming Indian Railways into a global leader in efficiency, speed, and passenger experience.
The Prime Minister highlighted the achievements of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which features the world’s highest rail arch bridge over the Chenab river and India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge over the Anji river. He underscored that this project will boost the region’s economy and symbolise India’s collective progress under the vision of inclusivity and development. The new Jammu division will encompass 578.38 route kilometres of broad gauge line, with coaching terminals at Budgam, Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Udhampur, Jammu Tawi, and Pathankot. It will operate 55 trains, including two pairs of Vande Bharat trains between New Delhi and Katra and the New Delhi to Jammu Rajdhani Express.
The event was attended by Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Union Minister Jitendra Singh.
In the Kashmir region, the Baramulla-Badgam-Banihal-Sangaldan section will offer 10 pairs of DEMU/MEMU coaching services daily, including one pair of Vistadome coach service (except Fridays). The Kangra Valley Railway, a 163.72 km narrow gauge section from Pathankot to Jogindernagar in Himachal Pradesh, will provide seven toy train services.
The new division will oversee important goods sheds and terminals handling commodities such as food, grain, petroleum, cement, sugar, coal, fertilizers, and seasonal fruits and vegetables. There are three Gati Shakti cargo points and one upcoming freight handling terminal at Bari Brahman near Jammu, with three more goods sheds planned for the Kashmir region.
The Jammu division will include 423 route kilometres from Pathankot to Jammu to Udhampur, 87.21 route kilometres from Bhogpur Sirwal to Pathankot, and 68.17 route kilometres from Batala to Pathankot. The Kangra Valley Railway, a narrow gauge section from Pathankot to Joginder Nagar, will span 163.72 route kilometres.
The division will feature 578.38 km of broad gauge track, 163.72 km of narrow gauge track, 3,114 bridges (including the Chenab and Anji bridges), and 58 tunnels (including the longest transport tunnels in India, T49 and T80). It will also include eight Amrit Bharat stations: Baijnath Paprola, Palampur, Pathankot City, Pathankot, Pathankot Cant, Jammu Tawi, Udhampur, Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, and Budgam. The division will have five coaching depots, five running rooms or crew lobbies, two freight examination points, 3,222 staff quarters, six health units, 14 freight terminals or goods sheds (with three more under construction), eight parcel offices, 94 booking offices, and 26 reservation offices.
Stations will be equipped with an auto public address system, coach indication board, CCTV cameras, and a train running display board. Telecom facilities in the Katra to Banihal section will include CCTV, SOS, ST, and VHF communication for seamless connectivity, along with a tunnel control room at all stations and face recognition features for all cameras. This new railway division will provide all-weather connectivity to the Kashmir region, reducing travel time with the operation of express and semi-high-speed trains. It will also enhance connectivity to popular pilgrimage and tourist spots, boosting both foreign and domestic tourism.
Additionally, the efficient transport of seasonal fruits and vegetables from the Valley to the rest of the country will support the region’s socio-economic development. The strategic importance of this railway network, due to its proximity to international borders, will also facilitate the operation of military trains to support troops stationed in forward bases.
