Latest news with #MEMU


News18
a day ago
- Business
- News18
Vaishnaw Flags off MEMU Train In Bengal, Says Centre's Focus On Expanding Railway Coverage
Last Updated: The minister highlighted that investment in railways in West Bengal increased from around Rs 4,380 crore in 2009-14 to around Rs 14,000 crore currently. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday flagged off the inaugural Purulia-Bankura-Howrah MEMU train via Masagram and said the Centre's focus is to expand railway coverage besides modernising the sector. The minister highlighted that investment in railways in West Bengal increased from around Rs 4,380 crore in 2009-14 to around Rs 14,000 crore currently. He flagged off the train through video conferencing from Santragachi railway station in West Bengal. Vaishnaw said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus is to expand railway coverage, modernise railways with technology, infrastructure and amenities and improve passenger experience. Around 12 lakh railway staffers are tirelessly working towards realising this dream, he said. The Purulia-Bankura-Howrah MEMU train via Masagram would boost rural, local and regional rail connectivity and passenger convenience, he said. The service is set to improve daily commute options for thousands of passengers across Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia, Bankura and surrounding districts. junctions in West Bengal, the train will not only ensure faster travel but also facilitate economic activity, he said. During the 2014-25 period, Kolkata Metro added 41 km to its network, compared to only 28 km between 1972, when the project started, and 2014. Underlining challenges related to land acquisition and traffic permission for Kolkata Metro and other railway projects, Vaishnaw urged the state government 'to rise above other things for the benefit of people". He referred to such challenges on the Kolkata Metro route at Kidderpore, Chingrighata and Beleghata area and also to the Bishnupur-Tarakeshwar rail route. Vaishnaw lauded the ongoing development of the Santragachi railway station as an Amrit Bharat station, especially the progress of work in the last one and a half years. The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is a long-term plan to improve railway stations across India in a step-by-step manner. 'The station is being modernised as a passenger and environment-friendly facility. It has been designed to handle over 50,000 passengers daily by 2063, in addition to ensuring time-bound train movement," he said. Lok Sabha MPs Prasun Banerjee and Saumitra Khan were also present in the programme, besides senior railway officials. First Published:
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Centre committed to invest in Bengal's railway infrastructure: Vaishnaw
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said the Centre is committed to investing in the railway sector in West Bengal and has significantly increased allocations as part of its broader push to boost connectivity, cargo movement and support micro and small enterprises in the state. Speaking at the inauguration of the Udyami Sammelan Mela 2025 at the National Library in Kolkata, Vaishnaw said the railway budget for Bengal has seen a sharp rise from around Rs 3,000 crore under the previous regime to around Rs 14,000 crore now. The minister outlined upcoming projects, including the development of the New Jalpaiguri-Kolkata Rail Corridor to world-class standards, a statement said. "A master plan has been prepared for new railway lines, Gati Shakti cargo terminals, and the upgradation of the chicken neck corridor to a four-line network," he said, adding that the Sivok-Siliguri-New Mal Junction section will also be linked to the main corridor. Vaishnaw, the railway minister, said that over the last 11 years, India has added around 35,000 km of new railway tracks, including 5,300 km in 2023-24 alone, while also adding 1,400 locomotives and 35,000 wagons annually to the network. He emphasised India's need for "economic decolonisation" and simplification of systems to promote ease of doing business. During the day, the minister flagged off the inaugural Purulia-Bankura-Howrah MEMU train via Masagram and said the Centre's focus is to expand railway coverage besides modernising the sector. He flagged off the train through video conferencing from Santragachi railway station in the state. Vaishnaw said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus is to expand railway coverage, modernise railways with technology, infrastructure and amenities and improve passenger experience. Around 1.2 million railway staffers are tirelessly working towards realising this dream, he said. The Purulia-Bankura-Howrah MEMU train via Masagram would boost rural, local and regional rail connectivity and passenger convenience, he said. The service is set to improve daily commute options for thousands of passengers across Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia, Bankura and surrounding districts. By connecting key junctions in West Bengal, the train will not only ensure faster travel but also facilitate economic activity, he said. He also said during the 2014-25 period, Kolkata Metro added 41 km to its network, compared to only 28 km between 1972, when the project started, and 2014. Underlining challenges related to land acquisition and traffic permission for Kolkata Metro and other railway projects, Vaishnaw urged the state government "to rise above other things for the benefit of people". He referred to such challenges on the Kolkata Metro route at Kidderpore, Chingrighata and Beleghata area and also to the Bishnupur-Tarakeshwar rail route. Vaishnaw lauded the ongoing development of the Santragachi railway station as an Amrit Bharat station, especially the progress of work in the last one and a half years. The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is a long-term plan to improve railway stations across India in a step-by-step manner. "The station is being modernised as a passenger and environment-friendly facility. It has been designed to handle over 50,000 passengers daily by 2063, in addition to ensuring time-bound train movement," he said. Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, who also attended the Udyami Sammelan Mela, said the government is working on simplifying the IT Act to match the pace of digital innovation. He acknowledged the long-pending demand for a permanent circuit bench of the Calcutta High Court in Siliguri, adding that the matter is under active consideration.


The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
There was no derailment of MEMU train: Southern Railway
With reference to the article published in The Hindu, titled 'Katpadi - bound MEMU train derails near Arakkonam on Saturday dated June 28, the Southern Railways claimed, on Saturday, that there was no derailment. The release from the Southern Railway said: 'There was no derailment of the Katpadi-bound MEMU train. The Loco Pilot of Train No. 66057 promptly detected a rail fracture at Chitteri station Yard Road 1 loop line—an identified maintenance caution location with a speed restriction of 20 kmph. Acting swiftly, the Loco Pilot stopped the train at 21.15 hrs, preventing any untoward incident. The track was restored within an hour, and the same train was cleared safely on the same line. All train services in the section are running normally.'


Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Vaishnaw flags off MEMU train in Bengal, says Centre's focus on expanding railway coverage
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday flagged off the inaugural Purulia-Bankura-Howrah MEMU train via Masagram and said the Centre's focus is to expand railway coverage besides modernising the sector. The minister highlighted that investment in railways in West Bengal increased from around Rs 4,380 crore in 2009-14 to around Rs 14,000 crore currently. He flagged off the train through video conferencing from Santragachi railway station in West Bengal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Key Components of the DDPP (See List) Decarbonization Pathways | Search Ads Read More Undo Vaishnaw said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus is to expand railway coverage, modernise railways with technology, infrastructure and amenities and improve passenger experience. Around 12 lakh railway staffers are tirelessly working towards realising this dream, he said. Live Events The Purulia-Bankura-Howrah MEMU train via Masagram would boost rural, local and regional rail connectivity and passenger convenience, he said. The service is set to improve daily commute options for thousands of passengers across Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia, Bankura and surrounding districts. By connecting key junctions in West Bengal, the train will not only ensure faster travel but also facilitate economic activity, he said. During the 2014-25 period, Kolkata Metro added 41 km to its network, compared to only 28 km between 1972, when the project started, and 2014. Underlining challenges related to land acquisition and traffic permission for Kolkata Metro and other railway projects, Vaishnaw urged the state government "to rise above other things for the benefit of people". He referred to such challenges on the Kolkata Metro route at Kidderpore, Chingrighata and Beleghata area and also to the Bishnupur-Tarakeshwar rail route. Vaishnaw lauded the ongoing development of the Santragachi railway station as an Amrit Bharat station, especially the progress of work in the last one and a half years. The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is a long-term plan to improve railway stations across India in a step-by-step manner. "The station is being modernised as a passenger and environment-friendly facility. It has been designed to handle over 50,000 passengers daily by 2063, in addition to ensuring time-bound train movement," he said. Lok Sabha MPs Prasun Banerjee and Saumitra Khan were also present in the programme, besides senior railway officials.


India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Prime Minister undertook lot of initiatives for development of MP," says Ashwini Vaishnaw on flagging off Gwalior-Bengaluru Express
New Delhi [India], June 27 (ANI): Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday virtually flagged off a new weekly train from Gwalior to Bengaluru, saying it will benefit cities like Guna, Bhopal, and other parts of Madhya Pradesh. He also said efforts are underway to start a train service between Gwalior and Agra, and that preparations for the upcoming Kumbh will be made on a scale similar to a Maha Kumbh. Speaking at the launch, Ashwini Vaishnaw said, 'This train will benefit Gwalior, Guna, Bhopal and everyone in Madhya Pradesh... The Prime Minister undertook a lot of initiatives for the development of MP... 2651 Km long tracks have been built in 11 years more than the total railway network of countries like Denmark. Eighty stations are under construction, including Gwalior... Efforts are underway to start a train between Gwalior and Agra... New projects worth around Rs 24,000 crores have been sanctioned... Preparations for Kumbh will be made like Maha Kumbh...' While, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that with the launch of the new weekly train from Gwalior to Bengaluru, travel has become much easier for people in the region. '... Gwalior has been connected to Bengaluru... People had to go to Kota or Bhopal via an 8-hour journey and wait there for another 8 hours. It took 36 hours to reach Bengaluru. Today, the same route has become convenient, and it will now only take 30 hours to reach Bengaluru directly,' Scindia said. He highlighted that students who want to study in Bengaluru can easily reach there. Additionally, youth who wish to reach Bengaluru for a job, or even parents who want to see their children, can also use this train to get there. 'Gwalior is changing and progressing under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Prime Minister Modi. Much development work is underway, and several new train connections have been established from Gwalior to various parts of the country. Additionally, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, a MEMU train is running from Gwalior to Kolaras, and in the coming days, it will be extended to Sheopur. After that, efforts will be made to take it to Kota,' Scindia said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually joined the program and flagged off the train on the occasion. While Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia flagged off the train from Gwalior Railway Station, and also travelled in the train. (ANI)