5-Aug-2022: Mission Raftaar

Mission Raftaar is a ‘Mission’ envisaged for speed enhancement and to achieve a target of doubling average speed of freight trains and increasing the average speed of Superfast /mail/Express trains by 25 kmph and not a standalone ‘Project(s)’. The overall allocation and utilization of funds under Mission Raftaar cannot be quantified.

CAG report tabled in budget session 2022 has analyzed the punctuality and travel time in train operations in Indian Railways as a whole. Mission Raftaar is only one of the document used as Audit criteria for preparation of report. Speeding up of trains is a constant endeavour and a continuous process on Indian Railways which is dependent on constant optimization of the investments made by Railways in modernization of technology, high powered locos, modern coaches and better tracks. To this end Indian Railways are inter alia proliferating Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches which have higher speed potential, converting passenger trains operating with conventional coaches into MEMU services (which have higher acceleration/deceleration owing to distrusted power). As a part of “Mission Raftaar” and during the period 2015-16 and 2021-22, 414 passenger train services have been converted into MEMU services.

Indian Railway is constructing more than 3000 Km of Dedicated Freight Corridor(DFC), which would enable freight trains to run at speed of 100 kmph.

There is marked improvement in average freight train speed.

During financial year 2016-17 to financial year 2020-21, Average speed of freight train has increased from 23.7 kms/hr. to 41.2 kms/hr.

5-Jan-2018: Mission Raftaar of Indian Railways

With a view to increasing speed of trains in Indian Railways, ‘Mission Raftaar’ was announced in the Railway Budget 2016-17.  The mission envisages a target of doubling of average speed of freight trains and increasing the average speed of all non-suburban passenger trains by 25 kmph  in the next 5 years.

Principal routes have been identified for raising of speed under Mission Raftaar. These are six routes on Golden Quadrilateral and diagonals namely, Delhi – Mumbai, Delhi – Howrah, Howrah- Chennai, Chennai – Mumbai, Delhi – Chennai and Howrah – Mumbai.  These six routes carry 58% of freight traffic and 52% of coaching traffic with a share of only 16% of the network.  Golden Quadrilaterals and its Diagonal routes have been prioritized for replacement of loco hauled short distance passenger trains by MEMUs/DEMUs having better acceleration and deceleration characteristics for fast pickup and braking.

There is no specific capacity for manufacturing of DEMU and MEMU coaches. However, product mix of coaches i.e. DEMUs, MEMUs, other self-propelled coaches and passenger coaches etc. is decided in annual Production Programme as per traffic requirements.

These six routes would require about 1200 MEMU coaches and 200 DEMU coaches. DEMU/MEMU coaches to be inducted progressively on balance routes of the Indian Railways.

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26-Jul-2022: Draft Guidelines for Operationalisation of Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax ferry service

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is promoting the Ro Ro/RoPAX transportation. Such water-based transportation service is an effective measure to lower the logistics costs, reducing travel time, reduce traffic congestion on road/railways, reduce noise pollution and promotion of coastal shipping on several feasible routes. The “Guidelines for Operationalization of Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax ferry service along the coast of India” seeks to homogenize and streamline the development and operations of ferry services, along with, promoting ease of doing business by eliminating unnecessary delays, disagreements and introducing digital interventions at customer interface.

In view of immense potential and distinct advantages of ferry service, Ministry is financially supporting 45 projects with total project cost of Rs. 1900 Crore. Under the ambit of Sagarmala, Ministry has operationalized Ro-Pax Ferry service between Ghogha - Hazira in Gujarat and Mumbai - Mandwa in Maharashtra. These services have transported more than 7 lakh passenger and 1.5 lakh vehicles, contributing towards clean environment and public welfare. Keeping in view the potential, additional projects are planned at Pipavav and Muldwarka in Gujarat and Ghodbunder, Veldur, Vasai, Kashid, Rewas, Manori and JN Port etc. in Maharashtra. In addition to above, Ministry is supporting 4 projects in Andhra Pradesh, 2 projects in Odisha and 1 each in Tamil Nadu and Goa.

22-Oct-2017: PM inaugurates Phase 1 of RO RO Ferry Service between Ghogha and Dahej

The Prime Minister inaugurated Phase 1 of the RO RO (Roll on, Roll off) ferry service between Ghogha and Dahej. This ferry service shall reduce the travel time between Ghogha in Saurashtra, and Dahej in South Gujarat, from about seven or eight hours, to just over an hour. Phase 1, inaugurated today, enables passenger movement. When fully operationalized, this ferry service will also enable movement of vehicles.

He said that the history of human civilisation illustrates the vitality of rivers and maritime trade. Gujarat is the land of Lothal; how can we forget these aspects of our history, he added. This programme is to bring back to life our glorious past; and connect Saurashtra with South Gujarat, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister said that people from these two regions frequently travel to and fro; and this ferry service will save a lot of time, as well as fuel.

Gujarat has a long coastline, and should harness the opportunities that arise out of this. Steps have been taken in developing coastal infrastructure. This ferry service too, would not be restricted to this one route. Other places too would be linked through ferries. He said the goal of the Union Government is to make the transport sector integrated, and state-of-the-art. He mentioned the Government's stress on the blue economy, which he said is integral to the vision of a new India.