The ambitious Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project is making giant strides. The latest development brings the project to the center stage. Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited a state-of-the-art track slab manufacturing factory at Kim village near Surat in Gujarat. This has been strategic to the project as it has been producing high-precision slabs using Japanese Shinkansen technology. This step is designed to introduce the high-speed rail corridor while also aligning with the “Make in India” program that encourages the process before enhancing India’s infrastructure capabilities, which are growing each day.
The High-Capacity Factory Inclusive Program to Manufacture Railway Tracks
The unit is a 19-acre site of high capacity. It was specifically designed to manufacture “high capacity ballastless tracks.” Of late, the bullet train has been this demanding with precision that ballastless tracks are required in it. The base technology in a factory is Shinkansen technology, which is a hallmark for the most advanced engineering and reliability. Initially, the equipment needed to manufacture these track slabs was imported from Japan. The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited has begun to manufacture this specific equipment under its supervision.
Key Role in the Bullet Train Project
This track slab factory is located close to the construction site, in Kim village. It is crucial for the success of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai high-speed rail corridor. The plant has optimized the supply of track slabs for the 237-km section of the stretch from Gujarat to Dadra Nagar Haveli. This facility is not too far from the project site and ensures that production is completed and dispatched on time to the required points, thereby significantly adding value to the project’s timely progress.
One step ahead of “Make in India” and knowhow
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who was on an inspection visit, said that slab production in the current project requires “precision construction.” He said, “While the initial slab production stages were done using Japanese imports, doing it domestically reflects the increased capability on India’s part in producing high-tech infrastructure.” Vaishnaw boasts that the factory is now amongst the largest such in the world, producing track slabs with precision unmatched anywhere in the world.
It is also claimed that extremely skilled workers in the factory are manufacturing it and quality control measures as indicated by the Minister will ensure every slab manufactured meets the needs of the high speed rail project; to put it bluntly, a very involved process of testing occurs in the factory.
This was not only the construction of Ahmedabad-Mumbai corridor but preparation for giants of infrastructure projects at other places too. All the industries required engineering precision, be it railways or municipal transport systems, which could benefit from the special construction facilities in the process.
Strategic Benefits from the Kim Factory to Achieve Project Milestones
The placement of the factory in Kim village is a crucial element to ensure that the project stays on track. Having the manufacturing facility for the track slab close to the site has considerably reduced delivery times. Deliveries by now have considerably reduced the chances of delays, which are normally associated with delivery over long distances. The proximity of the factory also has the potential to assure the solution of any issues swiftly so as to have uninterrupted progress on the 237 km stretch of the high-speed railway in Gujarat and Dadra Nagar Haveli.
Visit to Plasser India: Strengthening India’s Rail Infrastructure
Plasser India sees a slab track factory with a Rail Infrastructure of India Being Sturdified.
Rail Minister Vaishnaw also saw a slab track factory during the visit at the facility located in Karjan near Vadodara of Austria-based firm which has one big role as Plasser India. These machines would be used after the bullet train was in place to carry out routine maintenance so that the network would function efficiently. Vaishnaw’s visit to this facility once again reinforces the commitment the government has undertaken in supporting the bullet train project with every wherewithal of infrastructure and technology in its every dimension.
Conclusion: A Ray of Hope for the Bullet Train Vision
One of the landmark steps toward realizing India’s bullet train dream is Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s visit to the track slab manufacturing plant in Kim village. This project is merging advanced technology with skilled labor and local manufacturing at a rapid pace. This is the Ahmedabad-Mumbai corridor factory, which has portrayed the capabilities of India in the high-tech infrastructure and paved a way for the other similar projects. It would change the face of transportation for millions by moving rapidly and effectively.
Refer:
IndianExpress, Link to article
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