New Delhi : With passenger demand for travel rising steadily, Indian Railways has unveiled an ambitious plan to double the train originating capacity in major cities within the next five years, aiming for full implementation by 2030. The initiative is designed to ease congestion, improve connectivity, and meet the growing requirements of both suburban and long-distance travel.
Key Measures in the Expansion Plan
- Upgrading existing terminals: Additional platforms, stabling lines, pit lines, and modern shunting facilities will be added to boost efficiency.
- New terminals in urban areas: Fresh hubs will be identified and developed around major cities to share the load of existing stations.
- Enhanced maintenance facilities: Large-scale coaching complexes will be established to support the increased fleet.
- Sectional capacity improvements: Traffic facility works, advanced signaling systems, and multitracking will be introduced to handle higher train volumes.
Balanced Growth Across Stations
While expanding terminal capacity, nearby stations will also be upgraded to ensure balanced operations. For instance, in Pune, stations such as Hadapsar, Khadki, and Alandi are being considered alongside Pune Junction for additional platforms and stabling lines.
Comprehensive City-Wide Strategy
The plan covers 48 major cities, with actions categorized into immediate, short-term, and long-term phases. Each Zonal Railway has been tasked with preparing division-level strategies to enhance train handling capacity, addressing not only terminal upgrades but also sectional bottlenecks and operational constraints at yards and stations.
Progressive Implementation
Although the target year for doubling capacity is 2030, improvements will be rolled out progressively over the next five years. This phased approach will allow passengers to benefit from capacity additions sooner, while ensuring long-term sustainability.
Minister’s Statement
Union Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, emphasized:
“We are expanding coaching terminals and enhancing sectional and operational capacities in multiple cities to meet rising passenger demand and reduce congestion. This initiative will modernize our railway network and strengthen nationwide connectivity.”
