Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday (December 6) announced that the New Delhi-Mumbai and New Delhi-Howrah routes of the Golden Quadrilateral are undergoing upgrades to increase their speed potential under Mission Raftaar. The mission, introduced in the Railway Budget 2016-2017, aims to increase the average speed of ultra-fast freight and mail/express trains.

"Raftaar mission was announced in the Railway Budget 2016-17 with an objective to increase the average speed of ultra-fast freight and mail/express trains," Vaishnaw said.

Replying to questions in Parliament, Vaishnaw said the focus is on New Delhi-Mumbai and New Delhi-Howrah routes as part of the Golden Quadrilateral. Various measures have been implemented to achieve the medium and long term objectives of Mission Raftaar, including construction of bypasses, railway viaducts, construction of third/fourth line, proper propulsion of trains, replacement of conventional locomotives with MEMU, changes in timetables and adjustment including 1x25 KV traction system to 2x25 KV traction system.

Vaishnaw emphasized that accelerating trains is a continuous process that depends on the improvement of tracks, signaling systems, overhead equipment (OHE), powerful locomotives, modern coaches and more. "Accelerating trains is a constant effort and a continuous process that depends on track grading, signaling systems, OHE (overhead equipment), powerful locomotives, modern coaches, etc.," Vaishnaw said.

He highlighted the completion of 1,337 kilometers of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor and 1,149 kilometers of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. "Indian Railways has already commissioned 1,337 kilometers of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor and 1,149 kilometers of Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, which will allow freight trains to run at higher speeds," Vaishnaw said.

Regarding the Raftaar Mission funds, Vaishnaw clarified that it is a “mission” and not a “plan/project(s)”, making it difficult to quantify state allocations or specific train identifications. The minister's responses responded to questions raised by BJP MPs Keshari Devi Patel and Jaskaur Meena on the salient features of Mission Raftaar.