Delhi, 17 June (H.S.): Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated India’s largest automobile Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd in Manesar, Haryana. This terminal significantly enhances logistics efficiency, featuring a 10 km dedicated rail link to Patli station, part of the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor, with an ₹800 crore investment. The terminal has a capacity to handle 4.5 lakh automobiles annually.

Addressing the audience, Vaishnaw highlighted the transformation of Indian Railways over the past decade, noting budget growth from ₹24,000-25,000 crore pre-2014 to ₹2.5 lakh crore now. He mentioned improvements in passenger amenities, with over 1,200 General Coaches added recently, and upgrades to train services, including increasing the capacity of MEMU trains from 8-12 to 16-20 coaches. Additionally, a new factory in Andhra Pradesh will manufacture over 100 more MEMU trains.

The successful rollout of Namo Bharat trains has prompted plans for 50 additional units. In the financial year 2023–24, Indian Railways transported 720 crore passengers and 1,617 million tonnes of freight, marking second-highest global freight volume.

Vaishnaw announced reforms to Tatkal ticket booking effective from July 1, 2025, requiring Aadhaar verification for purchases within the first 30 minutes. A pilot project in Bikaner is preparing reservation charts 24 hours in advance, receiving positive feedback.

He also mentioned operational Amrit Bharat trains and the introduction of six more, with 50 more in production. In Haryana, the railway budget has surged to ₹3,416 crore, with 823 km of new rail lines laid and complete electrification of the network. Currently, ₹11,800 crore in projects are underway, including the redevelopment of 34 railway stations and construction of 540 road overbridges.

The Railway Coach Factory in Sonipat is modernizing to enhance production capacity, with the event attended by various prominent figures.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar