New Delhi: The speed of trains could go up to
200 kmph and congestion on existing routes reduced to a great
extent once dedicated freight corridors are commissioned, the
Railways on Friday said.
"With the commissioning of dedicated freight corridors,
capacity would be released along the existing trunk routes and
these would be upgraded to run passenger trains and EMUs at
200 kmph," Railway Board Member (electrical) Kul Bhushan said.
Addressing a seminar on high speed trains here, he said a
study is being carried out by Japan for upgrading speed of New
Delhi-Mumbai route to 200 kmph.
At present, trains on the Indian railway network touch a
peak speed of 120-130 kmph, while the Bhopal Shatabdi clocks a
maximum of 150 kmph between Tughlakabad and Agra.
Talking about his ministry's proposed high speed corridor
project which will handle trains at 250-300 kmph, Minister of
State for Railways K H Muniyappa said they have already
identified six corridors and have initiated action on pre-
feasibility studies for the proposed corridors.
He said Railways proposes PPP mode for investment and
execution of the project, and draw on frontier technologies
incorporating the highest standards of safety and service
quality.
"High speed executed rail corridor will become a catalyst
for India's economic growth, a stimulus for the development of
satellite towns and reduction of migration to metropolises,"
he said.
A National High Speed Rail Authority has been proposed
for planning, standard setting, implementing and monitoring of
construction of the high speed corridor.
Muniyappa felt the days are not far off when Indian
Railways could have high speed trains like the bullet train.
He said some 40,000 km of high speed rail tracks are
under construction across the world at present.
"High speed rail is environment friendly and will reduce
the green house effect. High speed rail in the country will
help to achieve mobility with lesser pollution and will create
manufacturing capability resulting in employment opportunity,"
he said.
The infrastructure creation will create meaningful jobs
both in construction as well as maintenance and operations, he
added.
PTI
First Published: Friday, November 04, 2011, 20:24