Indian Railways Developments and Future Plans

Automatic Train Protection Technology: Kavach

India plans to deploy the Kavach automatic train protection technology across its entire railway network within six years. This ambitious project is part of a broader strategy to enhance safety and efficiency within the Indian Railways.

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Indian Railways

• Infrastructure ownership will remain with the government while public-private partnerships (PPPs) are set to receive increased focus.
• A three-year target for PPP projects has been announced.
• The existing PPP policy from 2012 will be amended based on past experiences to better balance risk allocation and revenue share.

Capital Expenditure and Revenue

• The capital expenditure for railways is set at ₹2.65 lakh crore for 2025-26.
• Projected earnings are expected to exceed ₹3 lakh crore, driven by a record cargo loading of 1.6 billion tonnes and an anticipated passenger count of 790-800 crore people.

Japanese Partnership for Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail

• India's Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor features Shinkansen technology with Japanese collaboration to tailor trains for Indian conditions.
• Indian manufacturing entities like the Integral Coach Factory and BEML are developing a new bullet train design, initially capable of running at 280 km/h.

Passenger Safety and Amenities

• A budget of ₹1.16 lakh crore is allocated for safety enhancements, including replacing old tracks.
• The approval of ₹4.60 lakh crore worth of new projects includes the construction of 50 Namo Bharat trains, 100 Amrit Bharat trains, and 200 Vande Bharat trains.
• Development of 1,000 flyovers and underpasses is planned.

Station Decongestion and Capacity Increase

• Efforts to decongest cities include developing larger railway terminals, such as the new terminal at Delhi's Bijwasan railway station.
• Expansion is also planned for Anand Vihar terminal and another station for southbound trains.

IndiaAI Mission and Custom Duties

• IndiaAI Mission focuses on training AI models with Indian datasets to eliminate biases, particularly in language and culture.
• Simplification of customs duties for electronic components aims to boost domestic manufacturing.

Global Capability Centres and Taxation

• Details on the national framework for global capability centres, including potential tax incentives, are still under development.