New Delhi: The Ministry of Railways responded to claims made by Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale on Monday that the Narendra Modi government has raised the Vande Bharat Sleeper train contract by 50%.
In an X post, Gokhale posted,”Modi Govt has revised the ₹58,000 crores contract for making Vande Bharat sleeper trains. A train that cost ₹290 crores earlier will now cost ₹436 crores. This is a train with ONLY AC coaches that poor cannot afford. Who is benefiting from this 50% cost increase in Vande Bharat contract?”
In response to Gokhale’s claims, the Ministry of Railways asked him to stop disseminating false information.
“Please stop spreading misinformation and fake news. Cost per coach multiplied by number of coaches equals the cost of train. In sleeper project, cost per coach is lower than all benchmarks because of the transparency in process,” the ministry posted on X.
To create longer trains, we have expanded from 16 to 24 coaches, while maintaining the overall number of coaches under contract. This is because there is high demand for train travel. Earlier: 200 trains X 16 coaches = 3200. Revised: 133 trains X 24 coaches = 3192. The total contract value has actually reduced because there are economies when train length is increased. We are making record number non AC coaches (12000) looking at the high demand for railway travel,” the railways ministry added.
Vande Bharat sleeper trains
An addition to the Vande Bharat fleet is the Vande Bharat Sleeper train. “The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train offers a fusion of advanced technology and comfort, setting a new standard for rail travel,” a South Central Railway statement says. At its fastest, the train will travel at 160 km/h, guaranteeing a quick and graceful ride.”
Features of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train include Austenitic stainless steel train sets, crash-worthy features for passenger safety, best-in-class interiors with GFRP panels, aerodynamic exterior looks, modular pantry, fire safety, dedicated berths and restrooms for people with disabilities, and automatic exterior passenger doors are just a few of these features.
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