New Delhi: Pointing to rising demand for high-speed trains from across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the time when the first bullet train will run in India is not far. Virtually launching a slew of rail projects, including the inauguration of Jammu division, Prime Minister Modi said the railways had undergone a historic transformation in the past decade.
The PM also laid the foundation stone of Rayagada Railway Division building of East Coast Railway and inaugurated the Charlapalli new terminal station in Telangana.
In his virtual address, Mr Modi noted that the railways had undergone a historic transformation in the past decade and it has led to a change in India's image and a boost in people's morale.
“People increasingly want to spend less time covering long distances, leading to a rise in the demand for high-speed trains. More than 136 Vande Bharat trains are running on over 50 routes. Recently, I watched that the new sleeper version of Vande Bharat train clocked a speed of 180 km per hour in its trial run. The time when the first bullet train will run in India is not far," he said.
Lauding the country’s fast-paced progress in connectivity, Mr Modi said that since the start of 2025, India has been accelerating its initiatives with its metro rail network expanding to over 1,000 km. The Prime Minister mentioned the recent inauguration of the “Namo Bharat” train in Delhi-NCR along with the launch of Delhi Metro projects on Sunday. He said today’s event was a further testimony to the fact that the entire nation was moving forward together, step by step, as projects launched in Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha and Telangana mark a major leap in modern connectivity for these the north, east and south regions of the country.
The PM reiterated that the mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” was helping turn the vision of a developed India into reality.
Underscoring that the work on modern rail networks like the “Dedicated Freight Corridor” was progressing rapidly in the country, he said these special corridors will reduce pressure on the regular tracks and will also create more opportunities for high-speed trains.
Emphasising the railways are undergoing a transformation, Mr Modi said that modern coaches are being developed for metros and railways, and stations are being redeveloped, solar panels are being installed at stations and “One Station, One Product” stalls are being set up at railway stations.
”All these initiatives are generating millions of new employment opportunities in the railway sector. Over the last decade, millions of young people have secured permanent government jobs in the railways. The demand for raw materials in factories producing new train coaches leads to more job opportunities in other sectors as well,” he said.
The PM remarked that keeping in mind the special skills related to the railways, the country's first “Gati-Shakti University” has also been established and as the railway network expands, new divisions and headquarters are being set up, benefiting regions like Jammu, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Leh-Ladakh.
He further said J&K was achieving new milestones in railway infrastructure, with the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail line, which was being discussed all over the country today.
Mr Modi said that the completion of the Chenab Bridge, the world's highest railway arch bridge, will play a key role in connecting the region with the rest of India providing convenience to the people of Leh-Ladakh.
Mentioning that the Anji Khad Bridge, which is the country’s first cable-based railway bridge, is also part of this project, he said that Chenab Bridge and the Anji Khad Bridge are unparalleled examples of engineering leading to economic progress in the region and promoting prosperity.
Highlighting that Odisha was blessed with abundant natural resources and a large coastline, and holds significant potential for international trade, Mr Modi said that several railway projects worth over `70,000 crores are ongoing in the state, along with the establishment of seven “Gati Shakti” cargo terminals, which are boosting trade and industry.
He pointed out that today, the foundation stone has been laid for the Rayagada Railway Division in Odisha, which will strengthen the state’s railway infrastructure promoting tourism, business, and employment in Odisha specially South Odisha, where the number of tribal families is higher.
Inaugurating the Charlapalli New Terminal Station in Telangana, the PM highlighted its potential to accelerate regional development by connecting to the Outer Ring Road.
”This station, connected to the Outer Ring Road, will significantly boost development in the region,” he said.
Further noting that India was now undergoing a massive infrastructure expansion, including expressways, waterways and metro networks, he said the number of airports has grown from 74 in 2014 to over 150 today and that metro services have expanded from five cities to 21 cities across the country.
The Prime Minister said: “These projects are part of a larger roadmap towards a developed India, which is now a mission for every citizen of this country.”
