"Prime Minister Launches ₹85K Crore Railways Projects; Unveils 10 New Vande Bharat Trains"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi kickstarted a series of projects totaling Rs. 1.06 trillion in Gujarat on Tuesday, just before the implementation of the model code of conduct for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Among these initiatives, railway projects worth Rs. 85,000 crore took center stage.

The railway projects unveiled by the Prime Minister included the inauguration of 10 new Vande Bharat train services, marking a significant focus area for the Central government over the past few years. These trains will operate on various routes such as Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central, Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam, Mysuru-Chennai, and Lucknow-Dehradun, among others. Additionally, four existing Vande Bharat trains were extended as part of this inauguration. The introduction of sleeper versions of these trains is also anticipated in the near future, enabling longer journeys.

Modi emphasized that these railway developments align with the government's vision, which integrated the railway Budget with the Union Budget to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.

In addition to the railway projects, Modi inaugurated the operations control center of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) in Ahmedabad and several sections of the Eastern DFC, stretching from Punjab to Bihar. The completion of the Eastern DFC, after a decade-long delay, is expected to alleviate coal transportation challenges, particularly during the high-demand summer season.

While the Western DFC continues to face delays, with an expected completion date of 2025, Modi also laid the foundation stone for Petronet LNG's petrochemical complex at Dahej, valued at over Rs. 20,000 crore. This project aims to bolster hydrogen production and stimulate demand for polypropylene.

Apart from revenue generation opportunities through the sale of various products, the project is anticipated to benefit from the efficient utilization of cold energy from Petronet's existing terminal at Dahej, enhancing its energy efficiency. Dahej in Gujarat hosts the largest single-location LNG storage and regasification terminal, with significant increases in LNG processing witnessed in recent years.

BS