Fifty Amrit Bharat version 2.0 trains with upgraded passenger amenities will be manufactured in two years, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told newspersons after inspecting the coaches at Integral Coach Factory in Chennai on Friday morning. ICF manufactures the trainsets at a cost of ₹65 crore per trainset.

The Amrit Bharat Express is a superfast express service operated by Indian Railways. It is a non-air-conditioned, low-cost sleeper cum unreserved service connecting cities that are more than 800 km (500 mi) apart or take more than ten hours to travel with existing services. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first train a year ago.

Based on the experience of one year and the experience of the Vande Bharat sleeper, the Amrit Bharat 2.0 train has 12 major improvements, including ergonomically designed seats and modular toilets with new construction materials. These trains are for low-income and lower-middle-income families, providing affordable service to people travelling long distances, he said. The general coach has the same facilities as any premium coach. He added that it has been made with the sense of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ and upliftment of all.

The minister said the Pamban Bridge, connecting the mainland with the Rameshwaram island in Tamil Nadu, is ready, and trains will be running soon.

The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Southern Circle, AM Chowdhary, had pointed out glaring lapses in the construction of the new Pamban Bridge—from the planning stage to the execution of the bridge, which connects the Indian mainland to Rameshwaram Island.

To a query on the CRS’ observation, the minister said the confusion was that the CRS pointed out that the bridge should have been an RDSO (Research Designs & Standards Organisation under the Ministry of Railways) standard design. The RDSO design bridges are done when constructed in large numbers. However, the Pamban bridge is a unique bridge, and such construction happens once in a lifetime, he said.

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“We explained to CRS that Pamban bridge was not a standard bridge but a uniquely designed bridge in which the services of the best international experts have been taken for design and validating the design. The CRS understood this and gave clearance on the bridge design,” he said. Other issues, including corrosion, pointed out by CRS have also been sorted out, he added.

The minister said that Kavach is being installed in large numbers as part of improving safety features. Nearly 10,000 locomotives are currently being fitted with Kavach; about 15,000 km of trackside fittings are being done; telecom towers are being installed; and cameras are being installed on the front of the locomotives.

The progress on capex in Railways is very good. By the end of December and the first week of January, 76 per cent of the capex has already been utilised. This was a record capex, he said. Indian Railways is the lifeline of the nation. The support is for the common citizens, middle-class families, who use the railways more, he said, thanking both the Prime Minister and Finance Minister for the support given to the Indian Railways.