Indian Railways Plans To Reduce Travel Time By Three Hours On Mumbai-Delhi Route

Intending to reduce the travel time by at least three hours, Western Railway has undertaken various infrastructural changes on the Mumbai-Delhi route.

Currently, Rajdhani Express takes 15 hours to reach Delhi from Mumbai, and Railway authorities are targeting to reduce the travel time to 12 hours.

Changes along the route like strengthening of railway tracks, laying of geogrids and geotextiles on the route, constructing compound walls, and fitting the train with an anti-collision system are undertaken to increase the speed to 160 kilometres per hour (kmph) from the current range of 110 -130 kmph.

The project will be completed by March 2024, at the cost of Rs 11,188 crore, reports Livemint.

"It is the vision of railways to increase the speed of trains on the Mumbai and New Delhi route. We have started work on the project in full swing. Tendering processes for different works to increase the speed is ongoing," an official said.

Recently, Indian Railways has started rolling out upgraded Tejas smart coaches, equipped with intelligent sensor-based systems for Rajdhani Express.

The bright golden-hued coaches with enhanced smart features are being introduced to run the prestigious Mumbai-New Delhi Rajdhani Express train.

The new train will have special smart features for enhanced passenger safety and comfort. The smart coach aims to provide world-class facilities to passengers with the help of intelligent sensor-based systems.

It is equipped with the passenger Information and Coach Computing Unit (PICCU) provided with GSM network connectivity, which reports to the remote server.

PICCU will record the data of WSP, CCTV recording, toilet odour sensors, panic switch and other items integrated with fire detection and alarm system, air quality and choke filter sensor and energy meter.

Among others, for the enhanced safety of passengers, six cameras are fitted in each coach, which gives live recording. CCTV cameras with day-night vision capability, facial recognition even in low-light condition, and network Video Recorders.

The new smart coaches are equipped with automatic plug doors, and all the main entrance doors are centralised, controlled by the guard. The train will not start until all doors are closed.

Other features in the new smart coaches include a fire alarm, detection and suppression system, emergency talkback for medical or security emergency, panic button in lavatories, bio-vacuum toilet system, stainless steel under-frame, air suspension coaches, among others.