Delivering a special address at FICCI’s Future Rail India 2024 event, Shri Shantanu Roy shared his vision for India’s journey towards becoming the world’s third-largest rail network. He praised the government’s focused initiatives aimed at enhancing safety, providing a world-class passenger experience, and continuously upgrading rail infrastructure in line with the Viksit Bharat goals.
Roy highlighted several key focus areas:
- Infrastructure Development: Emphasizing the modernization of railway tracks and stations to offer world-class amenities, smart infrastructure, and improved passenger services.
- Technological Advancements: Utilizing AI and IoT integration to transition to smart stations, propelling India towards becoming a major global player in the rail industry.
- Freight and Logistics, Safety and Security, Passenger Amenities, and Environmental Sustainability: Enhancing these areas to revolutionize Indian Railways.
He also provided exciting updates about the new Vande Bharat trains. Indian Railways is exploring innovations such as aluminum coach Vande Bharat trains and concentrated power Vande Bharat trains with push-pull technology. The prototype Vande Bharat Sleeper train is currently being produced at BEML in collaboration with ICF, Chennai. These sleeper trains will feature increased height and an aerodynamically redesigned roof for better stability and passenger convenience. Each coach will have a stainless steel car-body, crash-worthy design elements, automatic exterior passenger doors, and sensor-based intercommunication doors. Once the prototype is delivered, BEML plans to deliver the remaining nine trainsets within a year.
