NB Explains | Vande Bharat Metro to soon replace Mumbai local trains? Check routes and other details
22 May 2023 17:52:22
The Mumbai local trains, which are said to be the most important aspect of Mumbaikars and the metro city’s life, will soon become a thing of the past as the Railway Board on Friday approved to procure 238 Vande Bharat Metro trains to upgrade the suburban railway network, news agency PTI reported.
These rakes would be acquired as part of the ambitious Mumbai Urban Transport Projects-III (MUTP-III) and 3A (MUTP-3A) overseen by the Railway Ministry and the Maharashtra government to increase the capacity of the metropolis' suburban train network, PTI quoted senior Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) official as saying.
“These trains will be manufactured by the technology partner ensuring Make in India guidelines of the Centre’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. The procurement will be undertaken by MRVC and it will be with maintenance requirements spanning 35 years,” said an MRVC spokesperson.
#BREAKING In a historic shift for #Mumbai, the ministry of railways on Friday decided to upgrade Mumbai local trains into classy Vande Metro trains and placed order for the procurement of 238 trains of Vande Metro (suburban) under Mumbai Urban Transport Project 3 and 3A.
— Rajendra B. Aklekar (@rajtoday) May 19, 2023
The… pic.twitter.com/GwcvzIaent
The technology partner will build up two depots for maintenance of the rakes that have already been approved under MUTP-III and 3A, the official was quoted as saying. As per the railways, Vande Bharat Metro will be a state-of-the-art rake that will be deployed for short distances to cover cities around 100 kilometres apart.
About Vande Metro:
Vande Bharat Metro, a mini-version of India's first indigenous semi-high-speed train - Vande Bharat Express - was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24, with a state-of-the-art rake that will be deployed for short distances to cover cities up to 100 kilometres apart. The Vande Metro will operate in big cities on a periphery of 50-60 km where there are large habitations.
According to an Indian Express report, the two suburban railway corridors run by the Western Railways (WR) and Central Railways (CR) cover 319 kilometres and serve 3,129 services, including AC locals.
It will be built in a format that trains at a high frequency, such as four to five times per day. There will be eight coaches, similar to a metro train. Normal Vande Bharat trains have a 16-car composition.
The trains will provide a rapid shuttle-like experience to the passengers. This will allow job seekers and students to get world-class transportation from one city to another while saving time.