Key facts
- The government highlighted 99.6% electrification of India's broad-gauge railway network as a key achievement.
- The world's highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River and the first Vande Bharat Sleeper train were launched.
- Over 36,000 km of new railway tracks and 484 km of tunnels have been constructed since 2014.
- The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project is under construction, with significant progress on civil works and the undersea tunnel.
- Railway complaint resolution time has been reduced to an average of 20-25 minutes.
- Over 4,170 km of railway lines have been electrified in the Northeast, with full electrification in five states.
The Indian government has outlined a series of significant achievements in railway infrastructure development over the past 12 years, as detailed in a recently released booklet. Among the key highlights are the completion of the world's highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River and the launch of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train.
The government reported that 99.6% of the broad-gauge railway network is now electrified, positioning India as a global leader in electrified rail systems and contributing to its Net Zero goals. This initiative is expected to reduce carbon emissions and support sustainable transportation.
Premium train services like Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat, and Tejas have been introduced to enhance national capacity. The Vande Bharat Sleeper train, in particular, saw over 1.2 lakh passengers travel in its first three months with 100% occupancy.
The Chenab Bridge, standing 359 meters above the river and 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower, is described as an engineering marvel that has improved connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar. The Anji Khad Bridge, India's first cable-stayed railway bridge, also on the Jammu-Srinagar route, was noted for its engineering significance.
Since 2014, the country has laid 36,000 km of new railway tracks and constructed 484 km of tunnels, a substantial increase compared to the 125 km built before that period. Progress on the 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project was also detailed, including completed civil works on the Surat-Vapi section and partial completion of its undersea tunnel.
Initiatives to improve ticket booking and resolve complaints have been implemented, with the 139 Helpline averaging 20-25 minutes for grievance redressal. The government also deactivated over 3 crore suspicious user IDs to enhance ticket availability for genuine passengers.
In the Northeast region, over 4,170 km of railway lines have been electrified, achieving over 96% electrification, with 100% achieved in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, and Mizoram. Investments totaling Rs 95,000 crore have been made in this sector since 2014, marked by landmark achievements like the first freight trains to Manipur and Meghalaya, and the first passenger train to Mizoram.