Delhi, 15 October (H.S.): Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Wednesday inaugurated the 16th International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE 2025), Asia's largest railway and transport expo, at Bharat Mandapam in the capital.
The three-day event, open until October 17, aims to foster innovation, modernization, and self-reliance within the railway sector.In a stern message to industry partners, Minister Vaishnaw warned that there would be no leniency for companies supplying low-quality equipment and parts to the Indian Railways.
The Railway Board has been instructed to implement a strict inspection system covering the production process, quality checks, and material selection, he stated during the inaugural session.
Highlighting the sector's transformation over the past 11 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Vaishnaw noted significant achievements, including the laying of 35,000 kilometers of new tracks. He mentioned the successful operation of 156 Vande Bharat Express, 30 Amrit Bharat, and 4 Namo Bharat trains, which have proven highly popular.
Indian Railways is currently producing approximately 7,000 coaches annually.Looking ahead, the minister emphasized the adoption of push-pull technology for all long-distance trains, stating it is highly effective for journeys of 2,500 to 3,000 kilometers.
He announced that Indian Railways is developing the next-generation Amrit Bharat 4.2 trainset and a new generation of passenger locomotives, with a target to have them on track within the next 36 months.On the front of green energy, Vaishnaw proudly stated that India is now self-reliant in developing advanced technologies like hydrogen-powered trains.
We have designed the hydrogen train entirely with our own engineers. This 2400 kW capacity modern technology will define the future, he said.The event also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya to promote skill development and innovation.
Additionally, the CII and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) jointly released a report titled On the Right Track, detailing the transformation and development trajectory of Indian Railways.
Furthering the focus on skill and design, Vaishnaw announced plans to establish a special Center of Excellence for bridge and tunnel design within the next three years, which will employ around 100 expert designers and leverage international partnerships and state-of-the-art software. He urged companies to collaborate with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, which has developed courses ranging from three weeks to six years to meet industry needs.
The IREE 2025, with participation from equipment manufacturers from nearly 15 countries and numerous MSMEs, stands as a symbol of the technological and industrial shift underway in Indian Railways.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
