Indian Railways Aims to Boost Train Capacity in 48 Cities by 2030

Indian Railways has unveiled a strategic initiative to double the originating train capacity in 48 major cities by 2030. This ambitious plan aims to enhance travel infrastructure, including the addition of platforms and new terminals, to meet the growing demand for rail travel. The initiative will focus on both suburban and non-suburban traffic, ensuring a balanced approach to capacity enhancement. Key cities targeted include major metros and state capitals, with a detailed plan set to be submitted to the Planning Directorate. The project is expected to yield immediate benefits over the next five years, with actions categorized into immediate, short-term, and long-term goals.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 26, 2025, 20:00 IST

Expansion Plans for Indian Railways

New Delhi: In response to the surging demand for travel, Indian Railways has announced an ambitious plan to double the originating train capacity across 48 key cities by the year 2030, as stated in an official announcement made on Friday.

The proposed enhancements will involve upgrading existing terminals with more platforms, stabling lines, pit lines, and sufficient shunting facilities, along with the identification and establishment of new terminals in urban areas.

Additionally, the initiative will focus on developing maintenance facilities, which include large coaching complexes, and improving sectional capacity through traffic facility enhancements, signaling upgrades, and multitracking to accommodate the increased number of trains at various locations.

While expanding terminal capacities, the surrounding stations will also be evaluated to ensure a balanced increase in capacity. For instance, in Pune, areas like Hadapsar, Khadki, and Alandi are being considered for capacity enhancements alongside the Pune station's platform and stabling line expansions.

This initiative will cater to both suburban and non-suburban traffic, taking into account the unique needs of each segment. A detailed plan for the 48 cities will be submitted to the Planning Directorate, outlining the proposed, planned, or already sanctioned projects aimed at achieving the goal of doubling train handling capacity within a specified timeframe.

The list of 48 stations includes major metropolitan areas such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, as well as state capitals like Patna, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Bhopal, and Guwahati, along with other significant cities including Varanasi, Agra, Puri, Cochin, Coimbatore, Vadodara, Surat, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Coimbatore, Vijayawada, and Mysuru.

Although the target for doubling capacity is set for 2030, it is anticipated that enhancements will begin to take effect progressively over the next five years, allowing for immediate benefits. This approach will facilitate the gradual fulfillment of traffic demands over the years. The plan will categorize actions into immediate, short-term, and long-term initiatives.

In a communication to the General Managers of all Zonal Railways, Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar emphasized the need for the proposed plan to be precise, with established timelines and clear outcomes. While this initiative focuses on specific stations, each Zonal Railway is encouraged to devise strategies to enhance train handling capacity throughout their divisions, ensuring improvements in terminal capacity as well as addressing sectional capacity and operational challenges at stations and yards.