India To Build 7,000 Km Of High-Speed Passenger Rail Corridors By 2047, Says Ashwini Vaishnaw

Unveiling an ambitious blueprint for the future of Indian Railways, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday (15 October) announced plans to construct 7,000 km of dedicated passenger corridors by 2047 under the government’s Viksit Bharat vision.

The new high-speed routes, designed for maximum speeds of 350 kmph and operational speeds of 320 kmph, are expected to redefine the country’s rail infrastructure.

Speaking at the 16th International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE) 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Vaishnaw said the upcoming corridors will be powered by indigenously developed signalling systems and advanced operations control centres, combining speed with enhanced safety.

The minister also outlined next-generation upgrades across India’s flagship train models, including Vande Bharat 4.0, Amrit Bharat 4.0, and future manufacturing standards.

“Vande Bharat 4.0 will be a new benchmark in performance and passenger experience,” he said, highlighting improvements such as superior seats, enhanced toilets, and refined workmanship.

He added that Amrit Bharat 3.0, based on push-pull technology, is being developed for long-distance routes, while the 4.0 version will introduce new trainsets and locomotives, expected to undergo testing within 36 months.

Vaishnaw credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for ushering in “a decade of modernisation,” citing the construction of 35,000 km of new rail lines and 46,000 km of electrification in the past 11 years.

Highlighting India’s rising global standing, the minister said locomotives built domestically are being exported to Africa and Australia, while 156 Vande Bharat, 30 Amrit Bharat, and four Namo Bharat trains are already operational.

He also mentioned landmark engineering projects such as the Chenab Bridge, Pamban vertical-lift sea bridge, and Bairabi-Sairang bridge, emphasising India’s rapid progress in railway modernisation and infrastructure development.

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