HYDERABAD: The next generation of intercity trains that will ferry passengers across Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru and other major cities could soon roll out from Telangana, with the Kazipet Railway Manufacturing Unit set to emerge as a key production hub.The Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, is expected to float tenders shortly for the manufacture of the new intercity coaches at the Kazipet facility, marking a major milestone in the state’s railway manufacturing ambitions.
The facility, being established at a cost of Rs 521 crore, is set to be completed within the next few months.Designed for a maximumoperating speed of 130 kmph, these trains are intended for short and medium-distance journeys of around 300 km, offering faster and comfortable connectivity between neighbouring towns and cities. The railways has set a target of manufacturing nearly 200 intercity trainsets at Kazipet over the next five years. Once production begins, the Telangana facility will become one of the country’s major centres for manufacturing next-generation passenger rolling stock.“Nearly 95% of the construction work at the Kazipet Railway ManufacturingUnit has been completed, and production is likely to commence by the end of this year. The facility has been designed with the flexibility to manufacture all types of modern passenger trains, including Vande Bharat coaches,” said a senior official in SCR.The trains are being positioned as affordable, shuttlelike services with frequent halts, catering to daily commuters, students and officegoers.Modern amenitiesEach train will comprise 20 coaches and feature modern passenger amenities, including automatic plug doors, enhanced ventilation systems and improved crashworthy coach design. Every coach will have two toilets, one at each end, to improve passenger convenience.Apart from strengthening India’s intercity rail network, the project is expected to boost Telangana’s role in the country’s railway manufacturing ecosystem and generate employment for around 3,000 people, both directly and indirectly.
