India’s first bullet train to be a reality soon, says PM

Giving a boost to the country’s railway infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stones and inaugurated multiple railway projects, including the creation of the new Jammu railway division, on Monday via video-conferencing.

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The time when the first bullet train will run in India is not far, PM Modi said as he underlined the “rising” demand for high-speed trains from across the country.

“People increasingly want to spend less time covering long distances, leading to a rise in the demand for high-speed trains,” the PM said.

The PM said the Jammu division would benefit people of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Leh-Ladakh. The new railway division will cover 742.1 km comprising Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla, Bhogpur Sirwal-Pathankot, Batala-Pathankot and Pathankot to Joginder Nagar sections.

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 km per hour. With 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.

India’s first driverless ‘Make-in-India’ trainset

Kolkata: Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd on Monday handed over its first driverless, Made-in-India trainset to Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation’s Yellow Line. The company built the trainset in its metro manufacturing facility in Uttarpara in West Bengal. The automated train with a stainless steel body, designed for state-of-the-art performance, will operate on the 18-km stretch linking Electronics City to the rest of Bengaluru. PTI

Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, said establishment of the Jammu railway division was not merely a milestone, but a reaffirmation of BJP-led Central Government’s commitment to integrate Jammu and Kashmir with India’s economic growth trajectory. He said while delays had plagued the region’s rail connectivity initiatives in the past, recent years have witnessed unprecedented advancements on this front.

“The Jammu railway division will serve as a critical junction, facilitating faster passenger and freight movement while boosting the local economy,” Jitendra Singh said, welcoming the expansion of rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, including the introduction of Vande Bharat trains and strategically located stoppages to cater to public demand.

Jitendra Singh, Lok Sabha member from Udhampur, also talked about plans for upcoming initiatives, such as making smaller stations like Sangaldan vital junctions, thereby enabling seamless connectivity even in remote areas.

The PM also laid the foundation stone of Rayagada railway division building of East Coast Railway and inaugurated the Charlapalli new terminal station in Telangana.

Modi said Odisha is blessed with abundant natural resources and a large coastline, and holds significant potential for international trade. He said railway projects worth over Rs 70,000 crore are underway in the state, along with the establishment of seven Gati Shakti cargo terminals to boost trade and industry.

Noting that the foundation stone has been laid for the Rayagada Railway Division in Odisha today, Modi said strengthening the state’s railway infrastructure would also promote tourism and business, and create employment in the state, especially in South Odisha, where there is a concentration of tribes.

Inaugurating the Charlapalli new terminal station in Telangana, the Prime Minister highlighted the station’s potential to accelerate regional development by connecting to the Outer Ring Road. “This station, connected to the Outer Ring Road, will significantly boost development in the region,” Modi said.

Talked about the station’s modern amenities, including its platforms, lifts, escalators and solar-powered operations, the PM said, “This is a step forward in creating sustainable infrastructure.” He said the new terminal would ease the pressure on existing stations in Secunderabad, Hyderabad and Kachiguda.

Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu was among those who were present at the function.