A country’s economic strength coupled with self-sufficiency reflects its overall standing in the world and the covid-pandemic has strengthened this fact. Working on the philosophy of Atma-Nirbhar, India has also started to focus on the domestic capacity building of industries to make the country self-reliant in fulfilling every demand of the market & administration. And the recent development in the Atmanirbharta is the hundred percent made in Indian semi-high speed regional trains.
Semi – High-speed train
Designed at Alstom’s factory in Hyderabad & manufactured at Savli, Gujarat, India has inducted its first semi high-speed regional train which will run along Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS (Regional Rapid Transit System) line. Speaking at the event of the induction ceremony, Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs said “It is a proud moment for all of us to witness the rollout of the RRTS train set, which is a true manifestation of Prime Minister’s vision of an ‘Atma Nirbhar India’. Designed in India, made in India, Made for India”.
Congrats to #TeamAlstom @AlstomIndia for delivering India’s first semi #highspeed regional train for the Delhi-Meerut RRTS project !
Learn more: ▶️https://t.co/MqRGlv1qrv#AlstomIndiaRRTS pic.twitter.com/LOPN1KQTNT
— Alstom (@Alstom) May 7, 2022
Equipped with the modern safety & comfort features, the semi-high speed train will run on the 82.5 km long Delhi-Meerut RRTS line. With a speed of 180 kmph, it is expected to decrease the 40% travel time between the route.
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Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System
The RRTS line was envisioned to provide Multi-Modal Integrated connectivity in the area around the National Capital Region. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has been provided with the responsibility to oversee the project. In an effort to increase the ease of living in the capital region, RRTS will stimulate the various modes of transportation like Airports, Railways, Roadways, and the Metro rail system.
It envisages the integration of public transportation for the seamless movement of goods & people to further reduce the cost of transportation & the pollution around. Furthermore, the semi-high speed train attached with modern technology & safety features is expected to provide an alternative option to private vehicle commuters which will ultimately reduce the congestion & pollution in the region.
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State of the art facilities
The RRTS line is reported to be the first in India to adopt the European Train Control System (ETCS) hybrid Level 2 signaling system, which is the core signaling & train control component of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).
Further, the key features of the train include, “CCTV cameras, fire & smoke detector, intercom, fire extinguisher, exterior camera, door status indicators, grab handles, Wi-Fi, laptop/mobile/USB charging stations, dynamic route displays maps, auto controlled ambient lighting system, large windows for a panoramic view and ergonomically designed areas to support disabled people and for medical emergencies”.
Alstom – The leading engine of Made in India Programme
In 2020, the Alstom company was awarded a 436 million euro contract to design, build and deliver 210 regional commuter & transit cars along with comprehensive maintenance services for 15 years. Further to supply, install, commission signaling & train control, platform screen doors, and telecommunication systems. Working with the speed, within one year of the beginning of manufacturing, the first train has been delivered in a record-breaking time.
Managing the lifeline of the country, Alstom India is involved in the various rail projects for passengers & freight movement. For the development of the metro, it is working in the cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, and Lucknow. Further, it is also executing signaling and power supply systems for a 343-kilometer section of the Work Bank-funded Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor. Moreover, the joint venture of Indian Railways and Alstom in Madhepura (Bihar) is manufacturing & supplying high horse-power locomotive engines to the railways.
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Although, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed corridor has been delayed due to some political intervention in the land acquisition of Maharashtra the semi-high-speed RRTS project completion gives some hope to the country that there are still some areas of development wherein 2 years of the inauguration of 30,274 crores of the rail project is not only made but Made in India. It shows India’s Atma-Nirbhar Abhiyan has started to match the speed of bullet train’s speed & bullet trains are on the way to Indian railway tracks soon.
