Indian Railways Expands Vande Bharat Capacity on 7 Routes

02 Sep 2025 CW Team

Routes receiving coach upgrades include:

16 to 20 coaches:

Mangaluru Central–Thiruvananthapuram Central, Secunderabad–Tirupati, and Chennai Egmore–Tirunelveli.

8 to 16 coaches:

Madurai–Bengaluru Cantonment, Deoghar–Varanasi, Howrah–Rourkela, and Indore–Nagpur.

The move follows impressive ridership figures—occupancy rates stood at over 102 per cent in FY 2024–25 and exceeded 105 per cent in the current financial year through June. According to Dilip Kumar, Executive Director (Information and Publicity), Railway Board, “Based on current data, three 16-coach trains will be upgraded to 20 coaches and four 8-coach services will be doubled to 16.”

Railway officials have confirmed that new 20-coach rakes are being prepared, while released rakes from the upgraded trains will be redeployed to serve additional routes.

Meanwhile, on 26 August, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis flagged off the new Nanded–Mumbai Vande Bharat Express via video link. Describing the service as a “gateway to prosperity” for the Marathwada region, Fadnavis highlighted the significance of Nanded as a major Sikh pilgrimage destination.

The train, which departed Hazur Sahib Nanded at 11.20 am and is scheduled to reach Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai by 9.55 pm, will reduce journey times by approximately two hours compared to existing trains. Officials noted that the route also connects other prominent religious and heritage sites, including the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, Shirdi Sai Baba temple, and the Ajanta–Ellora caves.

The Nanded service is part of Indian Railways' broader strategy to expand high-speed, comfortable, and efficient rail travel while supporting tourism, regional development, and sustainable transport solutions.

In response to rising passenger demand, Indian Railways is expanding capacity on seven high-traffic Vande Bharat routes by upgrading the number of coaches. The Railway Board has approved converting 16-coach trains to 20-coach formations and doubling 8-coach trains to 16 coaches, based on occupancy and feasibility studies through mid-2025.Routes receiving coach upgrades include:16 to 20 coaches:Mangaluru Central–Thiruvananthapuram Central, Secunderabad–Tirupati, and Chennai Egmore–Tirunelveli.8 to 16 coaches:Madurai–Bengaluru Cantonment, Deoghar–Varanasi, Howrah–Rourkela, and Indore–Nagpur.The move follows impressive ridership figures—occupancy rates stood at over 102 per cent in FY 2024–25 and exceeded 105 per cent in the current financial year through June. According to Dilip Kumar, Executive Director (Information and Publicity), Railway Board, “Based on current data, three 16-coach trains will be upgraded to 20 coaches and four 8-coach services will be doubled to 16.”Railway officials have confirmed that new 20-coach rakes are being prepared, while released rakes from the upgraded trains will be redeployed to serve additional routes.Meanwhile, on 26 August, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis flagged off the new Nanded–Mumbai Vande Bharat Express via video link. Describing the service as a “gateway to prosperity” for the Marathwada region, Fadnavis highlighted the significance of Nanded as a major Sikh pilgrimage destination.The train, which departed Hazur Sahib Nanded at 11.20 am and is scheduled to reach Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai by 9.55 pm, will reduce journey times by approximately two hours compared to existing trains. Officials noted that the route also connects other prominent religious and heritage sites, including the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, Shirdi Sai Baba temple, and the Ajanta–Ellora caves.The Nanded service is part of Indian Railways' broader strategy to expand high-speed, comfortable, and efficient rail travel while supporting tourism, regional development, and sustainable transport solutions.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Lucknow Metro East-West Corridor Consultancy Contract Awarded

The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation has awarded the first construction-related consultancy contract for the Lucknow Metro East West Corridor to a joint venture of AYESA Ingenieria Arquitectura SAU and AYESA India Pvt Ltd. The firm was declared the lowest bidder for the Detailed Design Consultant contract for Lucknow Metro Line-2 under Phase 1B and the contract was recommended following the financial bid. The contract is valued at Rs 159.0 million (mn), covering design services for the corridor. Lucknow Metro Line-2 envisages the construction of an 11.165 kilometre corridor connecting Cha..

Infrastructure Urban

06 Feb 2026

Div Com Kashmir Urges Fast Tracking Of Jhelum Water Transport Project

The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir has called for the fast-tracking of the Jhelum water transport project, urging district administrations and relevant agencies to accelerate planning and clearances. In a meeting convened at the divisional headquarters, the commissioner instructed officials from irrigation, public health engineering and municipal departments to prioritise the project and coordinate survey and design work. The directive emphasised removal of administrative bottlenecks and close monitoring to ensure timely mobilisation of resources and contractors. Officials were told to in..

Infrastructure Urban

06 Feb 2026

Interarch Reports Strong Q3 And Nine Month Results

Interarch Building Solutions Limited reported unaudited results for the third quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2025, recording strong revenue growth driven by execution and a robust order book. Net revenue for the third quarter rose by 43.7 per cent to Rs 5.225 billion (bn), compared with Rs 3.636 bn a year earlier, reflecting heightened demand in pre-engineered building projects. The company’s total order book as at 31 January 2026 stood at Rs 16.85 bn, supporting near-term visibility. EBITDA excluding other income for the quarter increased by 43.2 per cent to Rs 503 million (mn),..