The Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal within the Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar facility. The terminal is the largest automobile cargo terminal in India. It improves logistics with regard to transporting automotives. The terminal has a dedicated rail link approximately 10 km long to Patli railway station, which is a part of the 121.7 km Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor. The project incurred a huge amount cif cost because ₹800 crore were spent on the terminal’s construction.
Investment and Infrastructure Development
The Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation bore approximately ₹684 crore of the cost of the terminal while the rest was contributed by Maruti Suzuki. The terminal has a capacity of 4.5 lakh automobiles yearly, one of the largest capacities for a train terminal in the country. This development is a part of larger scope of developing railway infrastructure in India as a whole.
Indian Railways Transformation
There has been transformation to the Indian Railways since 2014, as the annual budget has grown from ₹24,000 crore in 2014 to ₹2.5 lakh crore in the present day. Characteristically basic amenities at large stations were good, however now these stations will have satisfactory level basic amenities, over 1,200 General Coaches were added this year alone, and improvements to different passenger services improved.
Passenger Train Services Upgrades
A significant decision was made on the augmentation of MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Units) trains, as at present the number of coaches from 8-12 will be increased to 16-20. This will positively affect short distance commuters travelling, as this will allow for a sufficient number of seats per train compared to their travelling range. An estimated 100 MEMU trains will be provided from its new factory in Kazipet, Andhra Pradesh, and the arrival of Namo Bharat (high speed) trains coincides with the growing demand of passenger numbers.
Freight and Passenger Performance
For the FY 2023-24, Indian Railways transported around 720 crore passengers. Indian Railways also carried freight of 1,617 million tonnes, the second largest globally. This level of productivity demonstrates the efficiency of Indian Railways.
Reforms in Ticket Booking
Significant reform in ticket booking for Tatkal will be instituted from 1st July 2025. Only Aadhaar-authenticated users, will be able to book tickets for the first 30 minutes on a train after it is made available for booking. This agenda will allow tickets to reach actual passengers. A pilot project in Bikaner is developing reservation charts 24 hours before the departure of train and will improve the travel experience.
Amrit Bharat Trains Initiative
Today, three of Amrit Bharat trains are running and have been very well received by the people. Six more trains will soon be operational and manufacturing of 50 more trains is ongoing. The aim is to develop better connectivity and to enhance passenger services.
Haryana’s Railway Development
Haryana’s railway budget has increased from ₹300 crore to ₹3,416 crore. In the last 11 years, approximately 823 km of new rail lines were laid. And it is the only state in India to have fully electrified railway network. Ongoing projects worth ₹11,800 crore including the re-development of 34 railway stations is going on.
Modernisation of Railway Facilities
The Railway Coach Factory in Sonipat is in the process of being modernised. This modernisation will enhance the capacity of coach manufacturing. It is expected to have a significant effort in light of the increasing demand.
