The Indian Railways is planning to make 102 Vande Bharat trains operational by March 2024. Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the operation of 75 Vande Bharat trains, the Ministry of Railways has invited bids for producing 58 rakes, each including 16 coaches. Tenders have already been floated for building 44 rakes. According to the Railway authorities, 102 Vande Bharat trains would be commissioned by early 2024. The Train18, later named Vande Bharat Express, was launched by the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai. It was showcased as India’s first semi high-speed train with the operational efficiency of 160 kmph and a game-changer. On the occasion of the 75th Independence Day celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that 75 Vande Bharat trains would be operationalised to join different parts of the country. In the fresh tenders, the Ministry of Railways insisted on the agreement of the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order 2017 and said that there was sufficient local capacity and competition in the supply of the tendered item in needed quantity and thus, public acquisition of this items is restrained to Class-I Local Suppliers only. The new tender issued on Saturday invited bids for development, design, manufacture and supply of tools for three-phase propulsion and elements for train sets according to the Research Design and Standards Organisation specifications. Of the 58 rakes of 16 car composition, 30 would be launched from the ICF in Chennai, 14 from the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala and 14 from the Modern Coach Factory in Raebareli. While contractors should certify the percentage of local elements and imported items, the tender conditions laid down that the eligibility for bidders from a country that shared land border with India to take part in the tender would be managed by the Public Procurement Orders of the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. Image Source Also read: Indian Railways invites bids for 58 new Vande Bharat trains