Currently, 133 Amrit Bharat trains are in various stages of production, while services have already been introduced in states like West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Vaishnaw said. | Photo credit: Biswaranjan Rout
The Center is committed to expanding affordable rail travel and improving access for lower-income passengers through subsidies and increasing capacity, including the introduction of Amrit Bharat trains, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Parliament on Tuesday (March 17, 2026).
Responding to a discussion on the Demands for Grants for the Ministry of Railways in Budget 2026, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Mr. Vaishnaw said, “General and sleeper class trains constitute nearly 70% of the total capacity of Indian Railways. About 1,250 more general coaches were added in 2024-2025 and 860 were added in 2025.”
The minister also highlighted the Centre’s drive for affordable long-distance travel by Amrit Bharat trains, which he said help cover a journey of around 1,000 km at a cost of around ₹450.
He said that subsidies worth ₹ 60,000 crore have been provided to promote affordable passenger travel, which translates into an effective benefit of about 45%.
“In comparison, rail fares in Europe and Japan are significantly higher,” Mr Vaishnaw said.
Currently, 133 Amrit Bharat trains are in various stages of production, with services already introduced in states like West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The minister also pointed to the continued expansion of premium services such as the Vande Bharat Express, including the recent introduction of sleeper variants on routes such as Guwahati-Howrah.
Mr. Vaishnaw criticized the opposition poll-dominated states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, calling them “anti-development”.
He pointed out that the implementation of the project has been put on hold due to delay in land acquisition by the state governments. In Kerala, the minister said that of the required 476 hectares, only about 65 hectares – or 14% – have been acquired so far, while 106 road flyovers and underpasses remain in process.
He claimed that in Tamil Nadu, the state government had acquired only about 24% of the required 4,300 hectares. In West Bengal, Mr. Vaishnaw claimed that around 60 projects were facing delays.
On the Kolkata Metro, he said, “Only 28 km was built in 40 years by successive governments, while 45 km was completed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Much more could have been done, but the airport section is already pending for 12 months as the West Bengal government has not given permission.”
Published – 17 March 2026 22:47 IST
