'Another Precedent Of Aatmanirbhar Bharat': Railways Minister Vaishnaw Announces India's First Hydrogen Train

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that India will have its first hydrogen train developed and built on the historic Kalka-Shimla route by December 2023.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (File Photo) ( Image Source :PTI )

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday that India will have its first hydrogen train built and constructed locally by December 2023 on the historic Kalka-Shimla route. Despite the fact that hydrogen-powered train technology is still in its infancy, with only a few countries employing it on a limited scale, India's early acceptance is seen as a significant step toward green efforts.

Taking to Twitter, the minister wrote: "Another example of #AatmanirbharBharat is Hydrogen train. This train will be ready by December 2023."

#AatmanirbharBharat की एक और मिसाल है Hydrogen train.
December 2023 तक ये ट्रेन बनकर निकलेगी।#GreenGrowth #AmritKaalBudget pic.twitter.com/De46UcLtAB

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) February 1, 2023

Vande Metro will be the name given to the forthcoming hydrogen-powered trains. It would first run on historic, narrow-gauge routes like as the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Kalka Shimla Railway, Matheran Hill Railway, Kangra Valley, Bilmora Waghai, and Marwar-Devgarh Madriya, making travel more environmentally friendly.

Vaishnaw said that this budget will be like a "growth engine" for the country. "The FM has allocated Rs 2.41 lakh crore for Railways which will be a big change for the sector as it will fulfil the aspirations of every passenger," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.

The minister stated that the railway is rising every year, highlighting the sector's developments. The 'Amrit Bharat Station' programme would redevelop 1275 stations, while the production of Vande Bharat trains will be modernised.

"Before 2014, only 3 km of track were laid every day; this year, it has climbed to 12 km of track every day, and the objective for next year is 16 km of track per day," he added, according to ANI.

Speaking on the country's introduction of hydrogen trains, the minister stated, As the budget focuses on green growth, Railway will also contribute with the hydrogen train which will come by December 2023 and will be designed and manufactured in India. First, it will run on heritage circuits like Kalka-Shimla and later it will be expanded to other places," he remarked.

(With Inputs From ANI)