India’s First Vande Bharat Express Maintenance Depot Taking Shape In Rajasthan, Four More Depots Planned Nationwide

Indian Railways has embarked on a significant project with the construction of the first dedicated maintenance depot for Vande Bharat Express trains at Bhagat Ki Kothi in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur Railway Division.

This will be the first of five such depots planned across the country.

Sharing insights on the project, Jodhpur Divisional Railway Manager Anurag Tripathi said that the facility will handle maintenance for Vande Bharat trains from across India.

"The Vande Bharat maintenance depot being built at Bhagat Ki Kothi in Jodhpur Division is the first of its kind in the country. It will handle maintenance for Vande Bharat trains from across India. Spread over 600 meters, it will have three pit lines to service three trains at once. Four more such depots are planned nationwide, but this is the first under construction," Tripathi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Set to be operational by the end of 2025, the depot will be pivotal in maintaining India’s fastest trains.

Tripathi also disclosed plans for a Rs 200 crore proposal for an adjacent workshop and training centre.

"Recruitment will happen through the Railway Recruitment Board, followed by training and deployment. We've also proposed a new Rs 200 crore project to build a workshop and training centre near the depot. Once approved, tenders will be floated and work will begin... The maintenance depot is expected to be ready by the end of this year... The workshop and training centre will take longer but will move swiftly once started..." Tripathi said.

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