Speed Meets Scale: Indian Railways Charts 2030 Vision For 48 Cities

Capacity Expansion Plan  
The Ministry of Railways said capacity addition will be progressive, with benefits accruing immediately as works proceed. Terminals will be augmented with more platforms, stabling lines, pit lines, and shunting facilities, while new terminals will be identified and created around urban areas to distribute traffic load evenly. 

Implementation And Works In Scope  
The plan spans four work streams: terminal augmentation, new terminal creation, development of maintenance facilities including mega coaching complexes, and sectional capacity increases through traffic works, signalling upgrades, and multitracking. Zonal railways have been directed to raise train handling capacity across divisions to meet demand and future requirements. 

Cities In Focus  
The 48-city list includes metros and large hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Patna, Bhopal, and Puri, with nearby stations considered to balance capacity around each terminal. For example, capacity planning around Pune factors Hadapsar, Khadki, and Alandi to spread originations and reduce bottlenecks. 

Key Highlights  

• Capacity to double by 2030 with phased increases over the next five years  
• Terminals to get additional platforms, pit lines, stabling lines, and shunting facilities  
• New terminals to be created in and around urban areas for balanced traffic  
• Maintenance to be strengthened via mega coaching complexes  
• Sectional capacity to rise through signalling upgrades, traffic facility works, and multitracking  
• Nearby stations to be integrated into planning to decongest primary hubs  
• Zonal railways instructed to raise train handling capacity across divisions 

Impact On Passengers And Operations  
Doubling originations in major cities should reduce waitlists, improve punctuality, and expand connectivity, especially during peak travel seasons. By distributing originations across multiple terminals and strengthening maintenance and signalling, Railways aims to ease congestion and enhance reliability, setting the network up for sustained growth through 2030. 

Sources: The Indian Express, CNBC-TV18, The Hindu, The Economic Times, DD News On Air, Orissa Post