New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in her Budget 2022 speech, that 400 new generation Vande Bharat trains will be developed during the next 3 years.
Nirmala Sitharaman also added that, under the PM Gati Shakti plan, one product one railway station will be popularized and 100 multi-modal connectivity points between mass urban transport and rail network will be taken up on priority.
The prototype of the train was ready by the end of 2018. The 16 coach Vande Bharat train was designed and made in the government-owned Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai. As of now, 2 trains have been manufactured so far. One is running between Delhi and Varanasi; the other is running between Delhi and Katra (Jammu and Kashmir).
Sitharaman also added that in 2022-23 the government will expand the National Highway network by 25,000 km under the PM Gati Shakti master plan. This master plan for road transport will take a final shape in 2022-23. An allocation of Rs 20,000 crores has been provided for PM Gati Shakti Master Plan for Expressway, Finance Minister announced. "The scope of PM Gatishakti masterplan will encompass the seven engines of economic transformation," Sitharaman said.
While commencing her Budget speech, Finance Minister stated that her Budget would be that of Amrit Kaal, that it would have a vision of over the next 25 years, taking forward the 75 years of Amrit Mahotsav festival of independence.