Akashvani News brings you glimpses of 2024 in its special Year-Ender series. Today, we take a look at the key initiatives and achievements of the Ministry of Railways. The Railways continued its transformative journey in the year 2024, paving the way for a new era of modernisation and progress in the quest to Viksit Bharat by 2047. Our correspondent reports modern stations, state-of-the-art trains, and innovative safety systems are reshaping the landscape of rail travel. With a strong focus on meeting world-class travel experiences and adopting advanced technologies, the railways have solidified their role as a catalyst for national growth.

The year witnessed the launch of 136 Vande Bharat trains, providing a faster travel experience to the passengers. Besides, the introduction of four Amrit Bharat trains showcased seamless travel with modern amenities at affordable rates for the passengers. Following the success of these trains, the Railways also launched Namo Bharat Rapid Rail to improve short-distance intercity connectivity. Further, the country’s historic bullet train project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad has witnessed the construction of over 243 km, along with bridges across 13 rivers. To ensure the safety of passengers and prevent train collisions, the KAVACH system has been introduced and finalised to equip ten thousand locomotives. CCTV cameras have also been installed at more than one thousand stations across the country. Additionally, 6450 km of tracks have been renewed, and the speed of the trains has been increased to up to 130 km per hour in over two thousand km of the network.