Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated railway development projects worth ₹1,472 crore and flagged off India's first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The event included the inauguration of a WAG-12 Maintenance Shed built at a cost of ₹700 crore for maintaining railway locomotive engines, with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other dignitaries present.
The development projects focus on environmental sustainability, passenger amenities, and rail safety. The 'Kavach' train protection system has been implemented on the Sabarmati–Kalol–Sabarmati rail section at a cost of ₹48 crore, with works commencing for its implementation on Ahmedabad–Palanpur and Ahmedabad–Samakhiali sections. Doubling work on the Sabarmati–Sarkhej railway route has also begun.
A significant technical milestone was achieved with the commissioning of a 12,000-horsepower twin-section WAG-12 locomotive engine capable of hauling freight equivalent to 600 trucks, replacing the need for two separate locomotives. The LNG-powered train is expected to contribute significantly to environmental conservation efforts.
Railway modernization achievements under the Modi government were highlighted: successful trial of India's first double-stack long-haul container train from JNPT Mumbai to Vadodara, which could double freight-carrying capacity; 97% of coaches equipped with bio-toilets; 87% of LHB coaches manufactured domestically; and railway safety budget increased by 67%. Locomotive production capacity increased by 66% under the current administration.
Energy efficiency improvements show dramatic progress: diesel consumption reduced from 293 crore litres in 2015-16 to 108 crore litres in 2024-25. Railway electrification increased from 30% before 2014 to 99.6% currently, with the remaining 0.4% expected to be completed soon. Electrification pace accelerated from 75 kilometres in 2010-11 to 7,188 kilometres in 2023-24.
Comparative international data shows India's railway electrification surpassing China (92%), Spain (68%), France (60%), and United Kingdom (49%), with only Sweden achieving 100% electrification but with a railway network nearly ten times smaller than India's.
The budget allocation comparison shows significant increases: Gujarat's railway budget was ₹589 crore from 2009-2014, while the 2026-27 budget alone stands at ₹17,366 crore, demonstrating accelerated infrastructure investment pace.