Union Home Minister Amit Shah has flagged off India’s first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmedabad and inaugurated railway development projects worth ₹1,472 crore.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday flagged off India’s first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
He also inaugurated and launched railway development projects worth ₹1,472 crore in the Sabarmati area. The programme was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other dignitaries.
The projects cover cleaner energy, railway safety, passenger amenities and freight infrastructure.
LNG-Powered Train Flagged Off from Sabarmati
The LNG-powered train uses a dual-fuel system involving Liquefied Natural Gas and diesel.
Amit Shah said the initiative would contribute to environmental protection.
The launch is part of efforts to introduce alternative fuels and reduce dependence on diesel in railway operations.
Shah also highlighted the transformation of the Sabarmati railway area in terms of passenger amenities, safety and connectivity.
₹1,472 Crore Railway Projects Launched in Ahmedabad
The railway projects launched during the programme include a WAG-12 Maintenance Shed, developed at a cost of ₹700 crore for maintenance of railway locomotive engines.
The projects also include installation of the Kavach train protection system on the Sabarmati–Kalol–Sabarmati section.
Kavach-related work has also commenced on the Ahmedabad–Palanpur and Ahmedabad–Samakhiali sections.
The Sabarmati–Kalol–Sabarmati Kavach project has been undertaken at a cost of ₹48 crore.
Work has also commenced on doubling the Sabarmati–Sarkhej railway line.
WAG-12 Locomotive to Support Freight Movement
Shah highlighted the capabilities of the 12,000-horsepower WAG-12 locomotive.
He said its twin-section capacity enables it to haul freight equivalent to nearly 600 trucks.
According to the remarks made at the event, a single WAG-12 locomotive can undertake freight operations that previously required two locomotives.
Double-Stack Trains to Increase Freight Capacity
Shah also highlighted the successful trial of the country’s first long-haul double-stack container train from Jawaharlal Nehru Port near Mumbai to Vadodara.
He said double-stack freight trains could help increase freight-carrying capacity on India’s rail network.
He also referred to the development of an 11,000-km-long corridor being converted into a four-lane network to support freight movement towards the Delhi–Howrah and Delhi–Guwahati routes.
Railway Electrification and Diesel Consumption
Shah highlighted the decline in railway diesel consumption.
According to figures cited in his address, diesel consumption declined from 293 crore litres in 2015-16 to 108 crore litres in 2024-25.
He said railway electrification had increased from around 30 per cent before 2014 to 99.6 per cent.
He also said railway electrification increased from 75 kilometres in 2010-11 to 7,188 kilometres in 2023-24.
Shah also highlighted higher expenditure on railway safety and increased locomotive production capacity.
Gujarat Railway Allocation Rises
Shah compared Gujarat’s railway allocation across different periods.
He said the state received a rail budget allocation of ₹589 crore between 2009 and 2014, while the allocation for 2026-27 stands at ₹17,366 crore.
He also highlighted the development of Dedicated Freight Corridors, Rapid Rail systems and upgraded railway stations as part of railway modernisation.
Shah further referred to the commissioning of a hydrogen-powered train and its role in expanding alternative-fuel technology in Indian Railways.
The LNG-powered train and the railway infrastructure projects launched in Ahmedabad form part of the broader focus on alternative fuels, railway safety, freight capacity and infrastructure development.
Source: DD India
