logo
Paraguay interested in importing Made in India 'Vande Bharat' trains: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Paraguay interested in importing Made in India 'Vande Bharat' trains: Ashwini Vaishnaw

India Gazette2 days ago

ANI
03 Jun 2025, 11:35 GMT+10
New Delhi [India], June 3 (ANI): Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw met the president of Paraguay, Santiago Pena and discussed opportunities regarding the growth of Indian railways.During his meeting with Vaishnaw on Monday, Paraguay's president showed interest in importing India's Vande Bharat trains. On the other hand, he also invited India to join the Central Bi-Oceanic Railway Corridor project (connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans). Ashwini Vaishnaw said on social media platform 'X' 'Called on President H.E. Mr. @SantiPenap of Paraguay. Paraguay has expressed keen interest in importing India's Vande Bharat trains and has invited India to join the Central Bi-Oceanic Railway Corridor project (connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans).'
Vande Bharat is a reflection of the Government of India's efforts towards strengthening the 'Make in India' campaign. The first Vande Bharat Express train was flagged off on February 15, 2019, on the New Delhi-Kanpur-Allahabad-Varanasi route.This train has a capability to run up to a maximum speed of 160 kmph and has travel classes like Shatabdi Train but with better facilities.Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, a Railways Production unit, has been the force behind a completely in-house design and manufacture, computer modelling and working with a large number of suppliers for system integration in just 18 months.The objective behind the train is to upgrade maintenance technologies and methodologies and achieve improvement in productivity and performance of all Railway assets and manpower, which inter alia would cover reliability, availability, utilisation and efficiency.The Vande Bharat comes with different features such as intelligent braking system which enables better acceleration and deceleration. All coaches in the train are equipped with automatic doors; a GPS-based audio-visual passenger information system, on-board hotspot Wi-Fi for entertainment purposes, and very comfortable seating. The executive class also has rotating chairs. (ANI)

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

India now ranks third in building general dry cargo vessels for European short sea trade: Sarbananda Sonowal
India now ranks third in building general dry cargo vessels for European short sea trade: Sarbananda Sonowal

Time of India

time14 minutes ago

  • Time of India

India now ranks third in building general dry cargo vessels for European short sea trade: Sarbananda Sonowal

Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel India now ranks 3rd in building general dry cargo vessels for the European short sea trade , Union Minister for Ports and Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal announced on Thursday, quoting private minister attributed this feat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "bold Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047"."India's shipbuilding ambitions are no longer just on paper, they are taking shape in shipyards and recognised globally," the minister wrote on X, attaching an infographic of strategic reforms to skilling our workforce, every step taken by the Modi Govt is making Make in India, Make for the World a reality. Our rise proves, India means business and the world knows it," the minister supplemented in his X Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 provides a comprehensive framework for the holistic development of India's maritime sector, encompassing ports, shipping, and waterways. MIV 2030 outlines 150 initiatives aimed at propelling India to global maritime 10 interconnected themes such as port infrastructure development, enhancing logistics efficiency, improving Indian shipbuilding tonnage, increasing coastal and waterway traffic, fostering technology innovation and policy support, promoting sustainability and global collaboration, address every facet of the maritime ecosystem, ensuring a well-rounded approach to transforming India into a leading maritime status of MIV 2030 gets reflected through the progress made by the Indian Maritime sector over the past 3 years as outlined below:Major Port Capacity increased from 1598 MMTPA in Financial Year 2022 to 1630 MMTPA in Financial Year Vessel Turn Around Time (TAT) reduced from 53 hours in Financial Year 2022 to 48 hours in Financial Year Berth Day Output increased from 16,000 MT in Financial Year 2022 to 18,900 MT in Financial Year the past three years, there has been a 37% increase in the Capital Expenditure to Rs 7,571 crore in Financial Year 2024 (from Rs. 5527 crore in Financial Year 2022) by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways including a 54 per cent increase in Gross Budget Support (GBS) to Rs 1,687 crore in Financial Year 2024 (from Rs 1,099 crore in Financial Year 2022) which is primarily towards the achievements of goals and targets outlined under MIV the past 3 years, around 75 port development projects have been awarded in Major Ports which includes projects for enhancement of cargo handling capacity and operational efficiency.

PM Modi to inaugurate Kashmir's first all-weather rail link with Delhi via Katra
PM Modi to inaugurate Kashmir's first all-weather rail link with Delhi via Katra

The Hindu

time24 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

PM Modi to inaugurate Kashmir's first all-weather rail link with Delhi via Katra

Kashmir is set to finally have a rail link with the rest of the country, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Srinagar–Jammu–Delhi rail link on June 6 at the Katra end in Jammu's Udhampur district. The Vande Bharat Express between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar will begin regular operations from June 7, officials said. Prime Minister Modi, in a post on social media platform X, said, 'Tomorrow, 6th June is indeed a special day for my sisters and brothers of Jammu and Kashmir. Key infrastructure projects worth ₹46,000 crores are being inaugurated which will have a very positive impact on people's lives.' Considered an engineering marvel, the Chenab Rail Bridge will improve connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar, he said. 'The Anji Bridge stands tall as India's first cable-stayed rail bridge in a terrain that is challenging,' he added. The Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which will now be fully operational, ensures all-weather connectivity. 'The Vande Bharat trains from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar will boost spiritual tourism and create livelihood opportunities,' the Prime Minister said. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also shared his anticipation on X. 'Visited the tallest railway bridge in the world, the Chenab Bridge, to review arrangements for the visit of the Hon PM Modi ji tomorrow. Tomorrow is a landmark day for J&K when, finally, the valley will be connected to the rest of the country by a railway link to be inaugurated at the hands of the Hon PM,' he said. 'I have been waiting for this moment for a long time. This rail project began when I was in the 7th or 8th class. Now, even my children have started working after completing school and college. But better late than never,' Mr. Abdullah said, expressing hope for the positive impact of the project on the region's economy. 'Whenever the highway gets blocked, the airlines start selling tickets of ₹5,000 for ₹20,000. Such issues will be solved from now on. Our horticulture produce like cherry and apple will be ferried.' Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw clarified that a direct rail service between Srinagar and Delhi will commence in September once platforms 5 and 6 are ready at Jammu Railway Station. In the meanwhile, following the inauguration by PM Modi from June 7 onwards, two pairs of Vande Bharat Express will begin regular operations between Katra Srinagar route. Following the inauguration, two pairs of Vande Bharat Express trains — 26404/26403 and 26401/26402 — will run on the Srinagar–Katra–Srinagar route with intermediate stops at Banihal. The 26404 train will depart Srinagar at 8 a.m., halt at Banihal at 9:02 a.m., and reach Katra at 10:58 a.m. The return service (26403) will leave Katra at 2:55 p.m., reach Banihal at 4:40 p.m., and arrive in Srinagar at 5:53 p.m. These trains will run six days a week, excluding Wednesday. The other service, 26401, will depart from Katra at 8:10 a.m., reach Banihal at 9:58 a.m., and arrive in Srinagar at 11:08 a.m., while 26402 will leave Srinagar at 2 p.m., reach Banihal at 3:10 p.m., and arrive at Katra at 4:58 p.m. This pair will also operate six days a week, excluding Tuesday. After inaugurating the train service, Mr. Modi is expected to visit the deck of the Chenab Bridge around 11 a.m., followed by a visit to the Anji Khad Bridge. Engineering marvels The Chenab Rail Bridge, which stands 359 metres above the riverbed — 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower — is being hailed as the world's highest railway arch bridge. The 1,315-metre-long structure, designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 260 km/h, is built at a cost of ₹1,486 crore and has a projected life of 120 years. The Anji Khad Bridge, meanwhile, is India's first cable-stayed railway bridge. Towering 331 metres above the riverbed and stretching 725 metres, it features 96 high-tensile cables and a 193-metre inverted Y-shaped pylon. It is constructed using over 8,200 metric tonnes of structural steel, with a total cable strand length of 653 km. The 272-km USBRL project, constructed at a cost of ₹43,780 crore, comprises 36 tunnels spanning 119 km and 943 bridges that traverse rugged Himalayan terrain. Central Reserve Police Force personnel have been deployed for security across the USBRL, especially on the Katra–Baramulla stretch and around the Chenab Bridge. The Army, Railway Protection Force, and Government Railway Police are also involved in the security arrangements. This visit marks PM Modi's first to J&K since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and follows a recent four-day military standoff with Pakistan.

Auto ancillary stocks shift into top gear but caution lights flash
Auto ancillary stocks shift into top gear but caution lights flash

Economic Times

time26 minutes ago

  • Economic Times

Auto ancillary stocks shift into top gear but caution lights flash

Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel Auto ancillary companies have generated higher investor interest over the past month amid buoyancy in the broader market. However, investors need to be cautious since the sector may face pressure due to muted demand for commercial and passenger vehicle (CV and PV) demand. Of the 22% increase posted by the ET-Auto Ancillaries index in the past three months, 13% was in one month, reflecting improved traction in these a sample of 22 auto component companies , half have posted year-on-year revenue growth in the March quarter in double-digits. However, only eight of them have recorded double-digit growth in net profit. While seven companies posted double-digit growth in operating profit before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), operating margin expanded for eight two-wheeler companies reported a slower volume growth in the second half of FY25 after a strong growth in the first six months according to Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOFSL). Tractors was the only segment that witnessed a strong demand automobiles sector saw earnings downgrades for FY26 as margin may take a hit amid rising input costs and tepid growth visibility. 'The recent appreciation of the rupee against the dollar is a key monitorable for exports-focused companies. Given these factors, FY26 is expected to be a year of modest earnings growth for most companies under our coverage,' said margin outlook for global original equipment manufacturers (OEM) adds to the uncertainty. According to Elara Capital, top international auto makers including Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Ford have either downgraded or suspended guidance for 2025, citing tariff risks, market share loss in China, and margin headwinds. This may impact Indian auto parts suppliers with global linkages like Bharat Forge Sona BLW , and Motherson Sumi A possible turnaround in the entry level demand for bikes driven by the rural market after a lacklustre trend in the recent quarters, new product launches and the vehicle scrappage policy hold the key for a demand uptick in the near term, according to YES Securities. It expects gross margins to be under marginal pressure due to a possible material inflation, cushioned partially by favourable product mix in the first half of FY26. In addition, the income tax relief is anticipated to boost demand, especially for price-sensitive fundamentals showing signs of fatigue, analysts advise caution in near term. Stocks with strong domestic demand drivers, rural exposure, and EV-related product lines may hold up better, but margin pressures and global uncertainties could limit further upside. According to MOFSL, the recent stock market rally has led to the normalisation of valuation multiples which had fallen in the recent past. 'The earnings outlook for the sector appears benign, given the modest volume growth outlook and expectations of rising input cost pressure,' the brokerage stated in the report, highlighting that it prefers Endurance Technologies and Happy Forgings among auto ancillaries stocks.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store