Vande Metro train completes first trial run from Ahmedabad to Mumbai

11 Nov 2024 CW Team

The Vande Metro Train, part of the high-speed rail project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, successfully completed its first trial run earlier this week, reaching speeds of 130 km/h. The trial, which was closely monitored by the Railway Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), covered the distance between the two cities, passing through Surat.

Inspired by the Vande Bharat train, the Vande Metro is designed for faster intercity travel with features like fully air-conditioned coaches, CCTV surveillance, a talk-back system, and passenger information boards. It boasts 12 coaches with a total of 1,150 ergonomically designed seats.

One of the key highlights of the Vande Metro is its ability to accelerate and decelerate quickly, allowing it to reduce travel times on mid-distance routes. It is expected to serve routes between 250 and 350 km, with travel times of 3 to 5 hours.

The trial run is a significant step towards launching this intercity rail service, which aims to provide a modern and efficient transport option between major cities.

Infrastructure Transport

09 Jan 2026

India Becomes First to Produce Bio-Bitumen for Roads

India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen for use in road construction, according to Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Bitumen, a black and viscous hydrocarbon derived from crude oil, is a key binding material in road building, and the bio-based alternative is expected to significantly improve the sector’s environmental footprint.Addressing the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony in New Delhi, Mr Gadkari congratulated Council of Scientific and Industrial Research on achieving the milestone, noting that the initiative would help curb ..

HILT Policy Seen Boosting Telangana Revenue Sharply

The Hyderabad Industrial Land Transformation (HILT) Policy is expected to generate around Rs 1.08 billion in revenue for the Telangana state exchequer, according to Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu. Speaking in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, he said the policy would be implemented within a six-month timeframe in a transparent manner, with uniform rules applicable to all stakeholders. Mr Vikramarka noted that without the HILT Policy, the state would have earned only about Rs 1.2 million per acre. Under the new framework, however, revenue is projected to rise sharply to Rs 70 ..

India Post, MoRD Tie Up to Boost Rural Inclusion

The Department of Posts and the Ministry of Rural Development have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate rural transformation and expand financial, digital and logistics services for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and rural households across India. The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The collaboration aligns with the government’s “Dak Sewa, Jan Sewa” vision and seeks to repositi..