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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Haryana: Railway minister, Saini launch India's largest cargo hub in Manesar
Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday inaugurated the country's biggest Gati Shakti Multi-Modal cargo terminal in Manesar, Haryana. Developed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the mega facility aims to boost multimodal connectivity and streamline freight movement across the country. Constructed at a cost of ₹117,091 million, the terminal is a joint initiative of the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HRIDC) which holds a 55.4% stake, Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) with 19%, and the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) with 5%. Lauding the rapid transformation of India's railway infrastructure under the current government, the Railway minister, on the occasion, said: 'In just 11 years, the annual railway budget has risen from ₹25,000 crore to ₹2.5 lakh crore. Haryana's allocation alone jumped from ₹315 crore before 2014 to over ₹3,400 crore,' he said. The central minister also announced that 100 new Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) trains and 50 Namo Bharat passenger trains will be launched. He said, additionally, work is underway to upgrade 34 Amrit Bharat stations across Haryana. The construction of 540 railway overbridges and underpasses has also been completed in the state. Vaishnaw also confirmed full electrification of Haryana's rail lines, and revealed plans to modernise the railway factory in Sonipat. Stating that the 823 km of new tracks laid in Haryana surpass the rail network of the United Arab Emirates, he said that work is underway to develop 34 Amrit Bharat stations in the state. On the occasion, chief minister Saini described the terminal as a 'milestone in Haryana's development journey' and a critical step toward realising the Prime Minister's vision of a developed India. 'This isn't just steel and concrete. It is a symbol of our nation's progress,' he said. The terminal will connect vehicle consignments from Maruti's Manesar and Gurugram plants to 17 hubs across 380 Indian cities, as well as export destinations via ports like Pipavav and Mundra, said Saini. Stating that Haryana has emerged as the country's leading automobile manufacturing hub, producing nearly 50% of India's cars, he said: 'The internal railway siding built by HRIDC at Maruti is a testimony to our 'ease of doing business' commitment.' Later, the CM and the union minister together flagged off the first cargo train from the terminal. On the occasion, Maruti Suzuki India MD & CEO Hisashi Takeuchi expressed confidence that the terminal would reinforce India's position as a global manufacturing and export hub. 'The project underscores our strong commitment to India's Net Zero emissions target 2070. It will contribute to avoiding 175,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions, saving 60 million litres of fuel annually at full capacity, and reducing road congestion. Lowering carbon emissions remains a top priority at Maruti Suzuki. We aim to achieve this, by increasing the share of vehicle dispatches through railways to 35% by FY 2030-31,' he added.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
India's largest auto cargo terminal inaugurated at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday inaugurated the country's largest automobile Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.'s manufacturing facility in Manesar, Haryana. The terminal marks a major milestone under the government's Gati Shakti initiative aimed at boosting integrated and efficient logistics infrastructure. Connected to Patli railway station through a dedicated 10-km rail link, the terminal forms part of the 121.7-km-long Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor being developed by the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC). The project has been built at a total cost of ₹800 crore, with HRIDC contributing ₹684 crore and Maruti Suzuki funding the remainder. With a vehicle loading capacity of 4.5 lakh units per year, the Manesar terminal now holds the distinction of being India's highest-capacity automobile cargo terminal . Speaking at the launch, Minister Vaishnaw highlighted the transformation in Indian Railways over the past decade. 'Before 2014, the annual railway budget was around ₹25,000 crore. Today, it stands at ₹2.5 lakh crore,' he said, adding that over 1,200 general coaches were added in the last year alone. The minister announced plans to upgrade over 100 MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) trains to 16–20 coaches to cater to rising short-distance passenger demand. A new MEMU manufacturing facility has also been commissioned in Kazipet, Andhra Pradesh. Vaishnaw shared Indian Railways' impressive performance in FY 2023–24, transporting 720 crore passengers and 1,617 million tonnes of freight—making India the second-largest freight rail network in the world. In a significant change for passengers, the minister announced that from July 1, Tatkal ticket bookings during the first 30 minutes of the window will be restricted to Aadhaar-authenticated and KYC-verified users. Other ongoing reforms include a pilot project in Bikaner Division where reservation charts are prepared 24 hours in advance, compared to the current four-hour window. Vaishnaw also spoke about expanding rail services, noting that three Amrit Bharat trains are operational, with six more to be launched soon. Production of 50 additional trains is underway. Focusing on Haryana's rail infrastructure development, he said the state's railway budget allocation has increased from ₹300 crore in 2014 to ₹3,416 crore in 2024. 'In the last 11 years, 823 km of new rail lines have been built and 100% of Haryana's railway network has been electrified,' he noted. Currently, infrastructure projects worth ₹11,800 crore are being executed in the state, including redevelopment of 34 stations and construction of 540 road overbridges and underpasses. The event saw the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Industries Minister Rao Narbir Singh, local MLA Mukesh Sharma, and Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. MD & CEO Hisashi Takeuchi.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Railway minister, Haryana CM launch India's largest cargo hub in Manesar
Gurugram Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday inaugurated the country's biggest Gati Shakti Multi-Modal cargo terminal in Manesar, Haryana. Developed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the mega facility aims to boost multimodal connectivity and streamline freight movement across the country. Constructed at a cost of ₹117,091 million, the terminal is a joint initiative of the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HRIDC) which holds a 55.4% stake, Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) with 19%, and the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) with 5%. Lauding the rapid transformation of India's railway infrastructure under the current government, the Railway minister, on the occasion, said: 'In just 11 years, the annual railway budget has risen from ₹25,000 crore to ₹2.5 lakh crore. Haryana's allocation alone jumped from ₹315 crore before 2014 to over ₹3,400 crore,' he said. The central minister also announced that 100 new Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) trains and 50 Namo Bharat passenger trains will be launched. He said, additionally, work is underway to upgrade 34 Amrit Bharat stations across Haryana. The construction of 540 railway overbridges and underpasses has also been completed in the state. Vaishnaw also confirmed full electrification of Haryana's rail lines, and revealed plans to modernise the railway factory in Sonipat. Stating that the 823 km of new tracks laid in Haryana surpass the rail network of the United Arab Emirates, he said that work is underway to develop 34 Amrit Bharat stations in the state. On the occasion, chief minister Saini described the terminal as a 'milestone in Haryana's development journey' and a critical step toward realising the Prime Minister's vision of a developed India. 'This isn't just steel and concrete. It is a symbol of our nation's progress,' he said. The terminal will connect vehicle consignments from Maruti's Manesar and Gurugram plants to 17 hubs across 380 Indian cities, as well as export destinations via ports like Pipavav and Mundra, said Saini. Stating that Haryana has emerged as the country's leading automobile manufacturing hub, producing nearly 50% of India's cars, he said: 'The internal railway siding built by HRIDC at Maruti is a testimony to our 'ease of doing business' commitment.' Later, the CM and the union minister together flagged off the first cargo train from the terminal. On the occasion, Maruti Suzuki India MD & CEO Hisashi Takeuchi expressed confidence that the terminal would reinforce India's position as a global manufacturing and export hub. 'The project underscores our strong commitment to India's Net Zero emissions target 2070. It will contribute to avoiding 175,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions, saving 60 million litre of fuel annually at full capacity, and reducing road congestion. Lowering carbon emissions remains a top priority at Maruti Suzuki. We aim to achieve this, by increasing the share of vehicle dispatches through railways to 35% by FY 2030-31,' he added.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Railways to introduce 100 next-gen MEMU trains, 50 Namo Bharat trains, says Vaishnaw
GURGAON/NEW DELHI: Short- and medium-distance rail travel will become smoother in the near future with the introduction of 100 next-generation Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) trains and 50 Namo Bharat trains, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday. Announcing the move, Vaishnaw said: 'Yesterday (Monday) we made a major decision to manufacture 100 new MEMU trains. These trains will have 16-20 coaches compared to 8-12 coaches in currently operational ones. These trains will be manufactured at a new factory in Kazipet, Telangana. They will greatly facilitate short-distance travel'. The MEMU trains -- electric trains designed for short and medium-distance routes, particularly in non-urban and semi-urban areas -- with the capacity to carry more passengers would help cater to increased demand during festive seasons. Vaishnaw said that given the very positive response to the two Namo Bharat trains operating on Ahmedabad-Bhuj and Jayanagar-Patna routes, 50 more of them will be manufactured. Namo Bharat trains are fully AC trains suited for short-distance travel, particularly on intercity routes. With Monday's decision, 150 new passenger trains will thus enter service in the near future. Highlighting govt's focus on affordable rail travel, Vaishnaw said railways added 1,200 general coaches to its fleet last year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bu bankalar kredi notuna bakmadan kart veriyor (Liste içerde) Kredi Kartı | Arama Reklamları Undo In fact, the drive to introduce more general coaches to meet passenger demand had been continuing for more than two-and-a-half years. In 2024-25, around 720 cr passengers traveled by trains in India, he pointed out. On the rollout of Amrit Bharat trains, the minister said: 'Three Amrit Bharat trains are currently operational and have received overwhelming public response. In the coming days, six more will be launched. The production of another 50 trains is underway, with more batches to follow'.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Infra push on track: Railways opens largest auto cargo terminal at Manesar, Vaishnaw announces new MEMU and Amrit Bharat rollouts
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday inaugurated India's largest Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal for automobiles at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant, calling it a key step in boosting logistics efficiency for the sector. The new terminal, connected to Patli railway station via a 10-km dedicated rail link, is part of the 121.7-km Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor being developed by the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC). According to the Railway Ministry, the project involved an investment of Rs 800 crore, with HRIDC contributing Rs 684 crore and the remaining amount funded by Maruti Suzuki. The Manesar terminal has a loading capacity of 4.5 lakh automobiles per year, among the highest in the country. Vaishnaw, addressing the inauguration, said Indian Railways has seen strong momentum in capacity building across both freight and passenger services, PTI reported. 'In the last two and a half years, a focused campaign has been launched to increase the number of general coaches. Over 1,200 general coaches were added just in the past year,' he said. He announced that over 100 MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) trains will be upgraded to longer configurations — from 8–12 coaches to 16–20 coaches — to improve capacity for short-distance commuters. A new MEMU factory has been set up in Kazipet, Andhra Pradesh, for this purpose. On the rollout of Namo Bharat trains, he said 50 new trains will be produced to meet rising passenger demand. The minister highlighted that in FY 2023–24, Indian Railways carried 720 crore passengers and 1,617 million tonnes of freight, achieving the second-highest freight volume globally. He also detailed reforms in the Tatkal booking system set to begin July 1, 2025. For the first 30 minutes of the Tatkal window, bookings will be restricted to Aadhaar-authenticated and KYC-verified users, aimed at curbing misuse and improving access for genuine passengers. Vaishnaw mentioned a pilot project in the Bikaner Division, where passenger reservation charts are now being prepared 24 hours in advance instead of 4 hours before departure, as per the current norm. Speaking on the new Amrit Bharat Trains, he said three are already operational with strong public response. 'Six more will be launched soon, and 50 additional trains are under production,' he said. He added that the Railway Coach Factory in Sonipat is undergoing modernisation and will be inaugurated soon, playing a key role in expanding India's coach production capacity. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
