By Dr G.P. Pandey, Professor, Assam University
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recently flagged off the country’s eighth Vande Bharat Express train. The Vande Bharat Express, also known as Train 18, is designed and manufactured entirely in India and is truly in tandem with the Make in India initiative launched in 2014. The trains are made by Indian Railways’ in-house production unit, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, and are regarded as the embodiment of India’s engineering and manufacturing prowess.
Effective Innovation
India is evolving as a hub for innovation and design. The Vande Bharat Express also exhibits our country’s potential in this arena. Being one of India’s fastest trains, it significantly cuts travel time between destinations. Equipped with a modern GPS-based passenger information system, automatic doors, and bio-vacuum toilets, these trains have allowed Indian Railways to take a giant leap in developing their capabilities.
The Indian Railways registered earnings of INR 48,913 crores in the nine-month period between April and December 2022, up a whopping 71 percent from the INR 28,569 crores during the same period of the previous year. These cost-effective trains are comfortable, efficient, and safe, and offer customers an elevated experience of the Indian train journey.
Sustainable Mobility
With India taking over the presidency of G20 2023, our country is steering the sustainable development agenda for the Global South. India is leading start conversations around increased investment to combat climate change in the APAC region and beyond.
As the world moves towards a cleaner, energy efficient future, there is growing realization that the transport sector, one of the key contributors to carbon emissions, must be reformed. According to the International Energy Agency, transport has the highest reliance on fossil fuels of any sector and accounted for 37% of CO2 emissions from end‐use sectors in 2021. Staying true to the spirit of innovation, the Vande Bharat trains use regenerative braking technology, reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
By introducing operational and technical changes to transport solutions in the interest of greater energy efficiency, we can lead climate action.
Focus on India’s Atmanirbharta
India has made concerted efforts to promote manufacturing. The ‘Make in India’ initiative has been able to increase manufacturing of everything from smartphones to passenger airplanes and defence equipment.
The government is focusing on making India a global manufacturing hub by encouraging both domestic and international companies to not only invest but also manufacture in India. As many as 25 sectors have been chosen to realize an increase in manufacturing activity. The goal is to increase the share of the manufacturing in India’s GDP from 16% to 25% by 2025.
RITES Ltd, a leading transport and engineering consultancy, with diverse geographical reach across several foreign markets, has been an unstoppable proponent of Make in India. Being the rolling stock export arm of the Indian Railways, RITES has been entrusted by the Central Government to identify potential markets and handle the export of these indigenously built trains. With a legacy of being a trusted global partner for close to five decades, the Public Sector Enterprise has undertaken railway projects in over 55 countries across Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East.
While it is understood that getting export orders for Vande Bharat Express trains would depend upon various factors, the cost advantage of these trains is likely to make them a strong contender for all countries looking to strengthen their infrastructure. Touted as a state-of-the art, Make in India product, Train 18 has the potential of not just becoming a global brand but also adding momentum to India’s journey of becoming a bigger exporter.