The modernisation of Indian Railways is evident from the semi-high speed Vande Bharat or Namo Bharat services on the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS).
The major catalyst for this modernisation is the Vande Bharat trains, which have enhanced the efficiency and competency of the Indian Railways. It offers a viable travel option to the middle class, who had otherwise been increasingly gravitating towards flights even for short journeys. The Indian Railways caters to 24 million passengers daily.
According to the railways, air traffic has experienced a significant fall of 10-20%, accompanied by a reduction in airfares by 20-30% following the introduction of Vande Bharat trains on certain routes.
Around 34 Vande Bharat have been active since the inauguration of the first train — the New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express in 2019. While these services have found immediate success, the railways are exploring ways to further popularise the trains and boost ridership.
The Railways aims to launch 75 train sets or 150 services in the current fiscal and has a long-term goal of having over 800 train sets in operation by 2030.
This fast-growing network of indigenously built semi-high speed trains is reaffirming the railways as the top choice for short-distance travel, as flying for such distances may not be time saving.
Earlier, experts had told Moneycontrol that the train services is expected to keep airfares in check and spur airlines to rethink their network strategies.
The railways is analysing the gender and age data of this expanding customer base to improve travel experience all the way from food options to other amenities and boost revenues through advertisements on seats, trays, head rests and more.
A New Phase of Railways
It is not just the improved rail experience on the trains, but also the cleaner and beautified railway stations that have contributed to the uptick in middle-class customers. Those exclusively accustomed to air travel are opening up to the idea of travelling by rail again.
The Ministry of Railways has developed several schemes, such as the Model, Modern, and Adarsh Station Scheme, with the aim of enhancing and beautifying railway stations throughout the network. More than 1,200 railway stations have been upgraded under the Adarsh scheme.
Moreover, 1,300 railway stations will be redeveloped and beautified as Amrit Bharat Railway Stations with a budget of Rs 25,000 crore. The ambitious project, executed under the Amrit Bharat Scheme, aims to enhance passenger amenities and improve railway infrastructure
This is a significant step for India to realise its goals in this Amrit Kaal era. To match India’s ambitions, the country needs an infrastructural revamp, a facelift, and that is what the Modi government is aiming for.
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