India's First High-Speed Rail Test Track Being Built in Rajasthan

11 Mar 2025 CW Team

India’s first high-speed railway test track, under construction on the Jaipur-Jodhpur rail route, is set for completion by December this year. Spanning 64 kilometre, the track is designed for testing high-speed trains, regular passenger trains, and freight wagons. Its design incorporates features from railway tracks in the USA, Australia, and Japan.

The track is being built near Sambhar, between Gudha, Thathana, and Meethdi, to meet the technical requirements of Indian Railways. With an estimated cost of Rs 9.67 billion, it will facilitate train speeds of up to 220 km per hour. The project, structured into four phases, is nearing completion, with most of the work already finished.

Phase One involved laying 19.8 km of track, followed by 15 km in Phase Two, 2.7 km in Phase Three, and 26.06 km in Phase Four. The remaining 2.5 km of track in the Sambhar Lake section is expected to be completed soon. Additionally, work on elevating four large bridges and 43 culverts is almost finalised.

The high-speed test track is expected to streamline train testing without disrupting main railway lines. This will ensure that passenger train operations remain unaffected while enabling more efficient high-speed trials. The location was strategically chosen due to its sparse population and the presence of an existing metre gauge line, which reduced the need for extensive land acquisition. The project also includes the development of modern laboratories, residential quarters, and workshops to support railway testing and operations.

News source: Patrika

Infrastructure Transport

11 May 2026

RAHSTA 2026 to Host Certified Highway Construction Masterclass

RAHSTA 2026 will organise the Certified Highway Construction Masterclass, a specialised two-day corporate training programme for highway construction professionals, on July 8–9, 2026, at the Jio World Convention Centre.The Masterclass will be delivered by RASTA – Center for Road Technology and supported by Construction World and FIRST Construction Council.Designed as an industry-led refresher programme, the Masterclass aims to help engineering and project teams stay updated with the latest advancements in highway construction, pavement technologies, sustainable materials, intelligent compa..

Grand Mercure Mysuru Turns 10; BHVL to Invest Rs 1,000 Crore in Karnataka

Brigade Hotel Ventures Limited (BHVL) has marked the 10th anniversary of its flagship property, Grand Mercure Mysuru, by announcing a major investment plan of around Rs 1,000 crore in Karnataka over the next five years. The company said the investment will be directed towards new hospitality projects as well as modernisation of existing assets, aligning with the evolving demand for experiential tourism.The announcement comes as BHVL reiterated its focus on strengthening Mysuru’s position as a prominent global tourism destination by supporting the local micro-economy and adopting sustainable ..

Ottobock and Celcius Set Up Prosthetics Warehouse in India

Celcius Logistics, a domestic third-party logistics (3PL) company specialising in end-to-end cold-chain solutions, has partnered with Ottobock India, the Indian arm of Germany-based Ottobock, to establish a dedicated prosthetics warehouse and logistics distribution hub in India. As part of the collaboration, a technology-enabled facility has been launched in Thane to streamline storage and nationwide movement of prosthetic and assistive devices.The dedicated warehouse is expected to strengthen the medical supply chain by reducing turnaround time and improving access to prosthetic products acro..