HM Amit Shah Flags Off India’s First LNG-Powered Train
Home Minister inaugurates ₹1,472 crore railway projects in Ahmedabad, highlights electrification, safety and indigenous manufacturing
GG News Bureau
Ahmedabad, 27th Sept: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Sunday inaugurated railway development projects worth ₹1,472 crore and flagged off the country’s first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmedabad.
Shah also inaugurated a ₹700-crore WAG-12 Maintenance Shed for locomotive engines. The projects include the introduction of the Kavach train protection system on the Sabarmati–Kalol–Sabarmati section and the commencement of Kavach works on the Ahmedabad–Palanpur and Ahmedabad–Samakhiali sections. Doubling work on the Sabarmati–Sarkhej railway route has also begun.
Addressing the gathering, Shah said the LNG-powered train would contribute to environmental protection. He also highlighted the development of Sabarmati Railway Station and improvements in passenger amenities, safety and connectivity.
He said the ₹700-crore WAG-12 Maintenance Shed would support maintenance of high-capacity railway locomotives. According to Shah, the 12,000-horsepower twin-section WAG-12 locomotive can haul nearly as much freight as 600 trucks and can perform work that earlier required two locomotives.
Focus on freight and modern rail infrastructure
Shah said the successful trial of the country’s first long-haul double-stack container train between JNPT, Mumbai, and Vadodara could significantly increase freight-carrying capacity. He also highlighted Dedicated Freight Corridors, the Rapid Rail System and modern railway stations as developments undertaken since 2014.
He said India has also entered the group of countries with hydrogen-powered train technology following the inauguration of a hydrogen-powered train.
The Home Minister highlighted the government’s emphasis on railway electrification and reduced diesel consumption. According to figures cited by him, railway diesel consumption declined from 293 crore litres in 2015-16 to 108 crore litres in 2024-25, while electrification has reached 99.6% of the network.
Shah also said locomotive production capacity has increased by 66% and the railway safety budget has risen by 67%. He linked the expansion of domestic railway manufacturing to the government’s Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
Kavach and railway safety
The Home Minister said the Kavach train protection system has been introduced on the Sabarmati–Kalol–Sabarmati section at a cost of ₹48 crore. Implementation on additional sections is also underway.
He said railway electrification increased substantially during the past decade and that the remaining 0.4% of the network would be electrified soon.
Shah also cited higher railway allocations for Gujarat, saying the state’s rail budget has increased from ₹589 crore annually during 2009-14 to ₹17,366 crore in 2026-27.
During his address, Shah also criticised the previous government over alleged corruption and said the Modi government had not faced any corruption allegation during its 12 years in office. These were political claims made by the Home Minister.
