With 75 Vande Bharat Trains Likely To Run By August 2023, Indian Railways Plans Doubling The Capacity Of Overhead Power Lines

In a bid to ensure smooth operation of the newer trains such as Vande Bharat Express, the Indian Railways has planned to double the capacity of overhead power lines.

The Railway Board in an order has directed that all electrification of routes will now be sanctioned with 2x25 KV traction system only, an upgrade from 1x25 KV traction system already in place, reports Economic Times.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last year announced that as many as 75 Vande Bharat trains will run across India by Independence Day in 2023.

The Railway Board's move of higher capacity electrification will reportedly complement the 75 Vande Bharat Trains, which are scheduled to hit the tracks by August 2023.

Further, in her Budget speech earlier this year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced that 400 Vande Bharat trains will be manufactured in the next three years.

The Ministry of Railways has already awarded a tender for upgrading electrification on 1,650 track kilometer on the high density section between Delhi and Mughalsarai for a cost of around Rs 1,140 crore.

In addition, budget for upgraded electrification of the Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi-Howrah routes have been sanctions. Meanwhile, the budgetary allocation for high capacity electrification of Mumbai-Chennai and Kolkata-Chennai routes is at pre-sanctioning stage.