Full Breakdown
Amit Shah Launches Multi-Billion-Rupee Railway Modernisation Programme in Gujarat
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Core Event – Flagging Off India’s First LNG-Powered Train and Associated Projects
On September 27 2026, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a suite of railway projects in Sabarmati, Gujarat, valued at more than Rs 1,542 crore. The centerpiece was the flag-off of India’s first LNG-powered train, a diesel-LNG dual-fuel system fitted to two 1,400 HP Driving Power Cars (DPCs) at the Sabarmati Integrated Coaching Depot. The launch also included the commissioning of a WAG-12 locomotive maintenance shed, the foundation stone for the indigenous Kavach automatic-train-protection system, an automatic block signalling upgrade, and the doubling of the Sabarmati-Sarkhej line.
Background & Context – Cleaner Fuel and Safety Modernisation
Indian Railways has been seeking alternatives to diesel to curb fuel costs and emissions. Introducing LNG as a partial substitute aligns with broader government goals of reducing carbon-dioxide, nitrogen-oxide and particulate-matter outputs from rail operations. Simultaneously, safety upgrades such as Kavach and advanced signalling aim to mitigate collision risk and human-error-related incidents on a network that carries over 1 billion passenger journeys annually.
Data & Statistics – Investment and Technical Scope
| Component | Cost (Rs crore) | Key Technical Details |
|---|---|---|
| Total package | 1,542 | Includes all projects listed below |
| Kavach safety system | 411 | Indigenous system covering 404 km (157 km Ahmedabad-Palanpur, 247 km Ahmedabad-Samakhiyali) |
| Automatic block signalling | 118.83 | Installed on 122.57 km of Sabarmati-Kalol-Bhandu Motidau and Sabarmati-Sanand-Jakhwada sections |
| WAG-12 maintenance shed | 700 | Facility for 300 high-horsepower WAG-12 electric locomotives (?12,000 HP each) |
| Sabarmati-Sarkhej line doubling | 313.27 | 21 km stretch, slated for completion by March 2028 |
| LNG-dual-fuel DPCs | — | Two 1,400 HP cars, LNG can replace ?40 % of diesel consumption |
Official Statements & Responses
The inauguration of the WAG-12 shed was presented as a move to support “high-capacity freight operations” across the western railway zone.
Impact and Expected Benefits
- Environmental: The dual-fuel technology is projected to cut diesel usage by roughly 40 %, directly lowering greenhouse-gas and pollutant emissions from the Sabarmati-based service.
- Operational: Automatic signalling and line-doubling are expected to increase route capacity and maintain safer headways between trains, improving punctuality on a corridor that serves the emerging Sarkhej-Dholera industrial region.
- Freight Efficiency: The new maintenance hub will keep a fleet of 300 WAG-12 locomotives in service, enabling heavier and longer freight trains, thereby boosting cargo throughput on the western network.
Timeline & Future Milestones
- September 26 2026 (scheduled): Announcement that the launch would occur the following day.
- September 27 2026 (occurred): Flag-off of the LNG train and inauguration of all projects.
- March 2028 (target): Completion of the Sabarmati-Sarkhej line-doubling work.
The coordinated rollout reflects a strategic push to modernise Gujarat’s rail infrastructure, blend cleaner fuel technology with advanced safety systems, and expand freight capacity ahead of anticipated industrial growth in the region.