New Delhi: The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) unveiled a sweeping digital transformation across its network at the 6th edition of FICCI’s Smart Railways Conclave, “Future Rail India,” held in New Delhi. The event brought together top industry leaders and policymakers who highlighted the critical role of technology, public-private partnerships, and sustainability in reshaping India’s rail logistics ecosystem.
Addressing the conclave, DFCCIL's Managing Director (MD) Praveen Kumar detailed the corporation’s infrastructure advancements, including the deployment of 2x25 kV high-rise overhead equipment and continuous welded rails engineered for 32.5-tonne axle loads. These enhancements represent some of the most advanced railway specifications in the country and support freight trains operating at speeds of 45–55 km/h—significantly faster than the average 20–23 km/h on conventional tracks.
Kumar also showcased DFCCIL’s cutting-edge control centres in Prayagraj and Ahmedabad and highlighted the integration of AI-based inspection systems, predictive maintenance technologies, and the rollout of the indigenous Kawach collision avoidance system, signifying a comprehensive push toward digitalisation and safety.
BEML Limited CMD Shantanu Roy announced major progress in the domestic manufacturing of high-speed rail systems. He revealed that BEML’s first driverless metro trainsets for Bangalore Metro are 50 percent complete and will be delivered by the end of FY 2025–26. BEML is also manufacturing India’s first indigenous Vande Bharat sleeper trains, capable of 180 km per hour and featuring advanced fire safety systems. The company's new facility in Bhopal will double its production capacity, supporting high-speed rail initiatives and maintaining over 65 percent indigenous content, in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.
In a landmark declaration, Jaideep Gupta, Additional Member (Railway Electrification), announced that Indian Railways has achieved 100 percent electrification—making it the only major rail network in the world to do so. This achievement marks a century of railway electrification in India and substantially reduces carbon emissions, making rail the most sustainable land transport mode. Indian Railways is also exploring advanced technologies like small modular nuclear reactors and flywheel-based energy storage systems to move toward full carbon neutrality.
Private sector investment in rail infrastructure is accelerating. The Co-Chairman of FICCI’s Transport Infrastructure Committee and Managing Director of Jupiter Wagons Limited Vivek Lohia announced plans to invest over Rs 3,000 crore in the next three years. The company aims to manufacture 100,000 wheels and axles annually, reduce import dependency, and position India as a global hub for rail components. Jupiter Wagons is also advancing braking system technologies through European partnerships and developing indigenous Hyperloop capabilities, demonstrating the sector's innovation-led evolution.
Vimal Kejriwal, Chairman of FICCI’s Transport Infrastructure Committee and MD & CEO of KEC International, emphasised India’s emergence as a global railway leader. With over 40,000 km already electrified, the Kawach system is set for deployment across 17,000 km in FY26 and an additional 30,000 km over FY27–28. The railway sector aims to increase its modal freight share to 45 percent and is expected to grow at a 5.5 percent CAGR through 2030.
The conclave also saw the release of the FICCI-PwC Knowledge Report titled "Diversification of Railway Freight Portfolio," underscoring the importance of multimodal logistics, indigenous manufacturing, and sustainable practices in transforming India’s railways under the National Rail Plan 2030.
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