Railways Unveils Winter-Ready Vande Bharat for Katra-Srinagar Route

09 Jan 2025 CW Team

The Railway Board has introduced a specially designed Vande Bharat Express to operate on the Katra-Srinagar route, equipped to handle Jammu & Kashmir’s harsh winter conditions. Currently stationed at the Shakurbasti coaching depot in New Delhi, the train awaits final clearance after inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.

This new addition to the Vande Bharat fleet boasts advanced features tailored to extreme weather. The train reportedly has embedded heating elements in the windshield, which automatically defrost the driver's front glass for clear visibility during harsh winters.

In addition to climate-specific adaptations, the train offers standard Vande Bharat amenities, including fully air-conditioned coaches, automatic plug doors, and mobile charging sockets.

This initiative aims to enhance connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the national railway network, reflecting India's commitment to bridging geographical and economic divides, according to a Railways press statement.

(ET)

Infrastructure Transport

17 Sep 2025

High-Speed Expressway to Cut Ayodhya–Varanasi Travel to Two Hours

Travel between Ayodhya and Varanasi is set to become faster and more convenient, as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) begins planning a nearly 200-km high-speed access-controlled expressway connecting the two cities. The tender process has been initiated to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project.Former MP Lallu Singh stated, “Upon completion, the distance from Ayodhya to Kashi can be covered in just two hours.” He added, “The expressway will connect to the Purvanchal Expressway, further enhancing connectivity from Ayodhya to Delhi.”The Ministry of Road ..

Alignment Uncertainty Delays Kochi Bypass and NH 66 Projects

Plans to ease traffic in Kochi with the Edappally–Aroor elevated highway on NH 66 and the long-awaited Kochi bypass have faced fresh delays due to uncertainty over the alignment of NH 966B from Nettoor to Willingdon Island.Nettoor is poised to become a key junction, linking the Angamaly–Kundannoor bypass (NH 544), NH 966B, the proposed NH 66 elevated corridor, and the Theni–Kochi highway. However, disagreements on how these highways will intersect are slowing progress.Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari recently informed Parliament that the National Highways Authorit..

New Wanpoh Substation Project Extended to June 2027

Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) has been granted an 18-month extension for completing the New Wanpoh substation augmentation project in Jammu & Kashmir.The Central Transmission Utility of India (CTUIL) revised the project’s completion date to 30 June 2027, from the earlier 31 December 2025. The project involves augmenting PGCIL’s 400/220kV New Wanpoh substation with a new 400/220kV, 315 MVA interconnecting transformer (3×105 MVA) and two transformer bays—one each at 400kV and 220kV. The project, estimated at Rs 610 million, was awarded under the regulated tariff mechanism (R..