Indian Railways To Complete High-Speed Test Track By FY26

30 Dec 2025 CW Team

The test track is being constructed between Gudha and Thathana Mithri in the Nawa region of the Jodhpur Division, around 70 kilometres from Jaipur. Falling under the administrative control of North Western Railway, the 64-kilometre corridor has been designed to support train speeds of up to 220 kmph, enabling high-speed trials in a controlled environment.

Shashi Kiran, Chief Public Relations Officer of North Western Railway, said Indian Railways is building the country’s first RDSO-dedicated test track for comprehensive testing of rolling stock. He added that around 58 kilometres of the track have already been completed and the entire project is targeted for completion by March 2026.

Once operational, the facility is expected to play a critical role in enhancing rail safety, validating new technologies and accelerating approvals for next-generation rolling stock, reducing dependence on limited-capacity live railway sections for testing.

Alongside the high-speed test track, Indian Railways is continuing to expand rail infrastructure across Rajasthan. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has approved the doubling of the 25-kilometre Umra–Debari railway section at an estimated cost of Rs 4.92 billion.

The project aims to ease congestion on the route and improve rail connectivity to Udaipur, a major tourist hub. Once completed, the upgraded section is expected to allow faster train movement and strengthen links with key cities such as Ahmedabad and Jaipur, supporting both passenger and freight traffic.

Indian Railways is expected to complete its first dedicated high-speed test track by the end of the 2025–26 financial year, marking a major step in advancing rail technology and safety standards. The facility is being developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in Rajasthan at an estimated cost of Rs 9.67 billion. The test track is being constructed between Gudha and Thathana Mithri in the Nawa region of the Jodhpur Division, around 70 kilometres from Jaipur. Falling under the administrative control of North Western Railway, the 64-kilometre corridor has been designed to support train speeds of up to 220 kmph, enabling high-speed trials in a controlled environment. Shashi Kiran, Chief Public Relations Officer of North Western Railway, said Indian Railways is building the country’s first RDSO-dedicated test track for comprehensive testing of rolling stock. He added that around 58 kilometres of the track have already been completed and the entire project is targeted for completion by March 2026. Once operational, the facility is expected to play a critical role in enhancing rail safety, validating new technologies and accelerating approvals for next-generation rolling stock, reducing dependence on limited-capacity live railway sections for testing. Alongside the high-speed test track, Indian Railways is continuing to expand rail infrastructure across Rajasthan. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has approved the doubling of the 25-kilometre Umra–Debari railway section at an estimated cost of Rs 4.92 billion. The project aims to ease congestion on the route and improve rail connectivity to Udaipur, a major tourist hub. Once completed, the upgraded section is expected to allow faster train movement and strengthen links with key cities such as Ahmedabad and Jaipur, supporting both passenger and freight traffic.

Real Estate

28 Feb 2026

Casagrand Launches Keystone In Tiruppur

Casagrand has launched Casagrand Keystone, a gated residential development at Rakkiyapalayam, off Avinashi Road, in Tiruppur. Spread across 2.2 acres, the B+G+5 structure comprises 142 units of 2 and 3 BHK homes, supported by 48 indoor and outdoor amenities. The project is introduced at a starting price of Rs 5,199 per sq. ft. The development allocates 1.3 acres to open space, including a central park of about 24,500 sq. ft. A 6,800 sq. ft. clubhouse includes a multipurpose hall, mini theatre and indoor recreation facilities. Other amenities include a 5,100 sq. ft. swimming pool, poolside par..

Real Estate

28 Feb 2026

Premium homes account for half of India’s housing sales in 2025

Knight Frank India, in its latest report on India’s office and residential property market, has highlighted a significant shift in housing demand, with homes priced above Rs 10 million accounting for 50 per cent of total residential sales across the top eight cities in 2025. The findings underscore the growing dominance of premium housing in the country’s real estate landscape.Out of 348,247 residential units sold during the year, approximately 175,091 units were in the Rs 10 million-plus category, marking a 14 per cent year-on-year increase. The data reflects changing buyer preferences, w..

Infrastructure Energy

28 Feb 2026

Xbattery launches XB-5K energy storage system for homes, offices

Xbattery, a Hyderabad-based deep-tech company specialising in next-generation energy storage and battery management technologies, has introduced its flagship XB-5K, a scalable 5kWh energy storage system designed for homes and offices in India.The XB-5K is built on the company’s indigenously developed BharatBMS platform, described as India’s first universal high-voltage battery management system architecture aimed at reducing import dependence and improving after-sales service capabilities. The launch comes as India seeks to strengthen domestic manufacturing and address reliance on imported..