India has taken a giant leap in green transport with the launch of its first fully indigenous hydrogen-powered passenger vessel and the completion of manufacturing for its maiden hydrogen train. These milestones mark the country’s push towards clean energy under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the vessel’s commercial operations at Namo Ghat in Varanasi on Thursday. Built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd for the Inland Waterways Authority of India, the 24-metre catamaran can carry 50 passengers in an air-conditioned cabin. It runs for up to eight hours on a single hydrogen fill and completed its maiden five-kilometre trip from Namo Ghat to Lalita Ghat on the Ganga River. This signals the start of clean water transport on National Waterway 1.

A day earlier, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Parliament that Indian Railways has finished making the world’s longest and most powerful hydrogen train set on a broad-gauge platform. The 10-coach train packs a total power output of 2,400 kW from two driving power cars. It produces zero carbon dioxide emissions, with only water vapour as a byproduct. A hydrogen production plant using electrolysis is proposed in Jind, Haryana, to fuel the train. Both projects highlight India’s growing prowess in home-grown clean tech.

Indigenous Tech Fuels the Drive

These initiatives showcase India’s domestic manufacturing strength. The hydrogen vessel runs on a Low Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell system that turns stored hydrogen into electricity. Its hybrid setup blends hydrogen fuel cells with batteries and solar power. The Indian Register of Shipping has certified the vessel, ensuring top safety standards.

The vessel launch puts India in the league of China, Norway, the Netherlands, and Japan for hydrogen-powered maritime transport. On the rail front, the hydrogen train makes India the fifth nation after Germany, France, Sweden, and China to roll out such tech on railways. “Under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is witnessing a transformative shift toward clean, sustainable and self-reliant transportation systems,” Sonowal said at the Varanasi event. He added that this milestone strengthens the mission to rejuvenate and preserve the sacred Ganga.

Indian Railways designed the train from scratch, developing hydrogen traction technology for the first time. Officials say direct cost comparisons with traditional systems are not fair at this pilot stage. Yet, the project shows the railways’ firm commitment to alternative-energy trains.

Net-Zero Goals Gain Momentum

The launches tie into India’s pledge for net-zero emissions by 2070. They back the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ Maritime India Vision 2030. The hydrogen vessel will boost local tourism and place Varanasi among the world’s first cities for hydrogen passenger transport on water. Vaishnaw stressed that the train is a step towards next-generation fuel for rails.

Both projects align with the broader green push. The vessel’s zero-emission run on the Ganga cuts pollution in a key tourism spot. The train promises cleaner rail travel across India’s vast network. With home-built tech, India cuts reliance on imports and builds local skills in hydrogen systems.

Experts see these as game-changers. They pave the way for more hydrogen projects in buses, trucks, and ferries. The Jind plant will produce green hydrogen via electrolysis, using renewable power. This setup ensures truly clean fuel from start to end.

Path to Self-Reliant Green Mobility

India’s hydrogen drive builds on global trends but stands out with its scale and local roots. The train’s broad-gauge design suits Indian tracks, unlike slimmer European models. Similarly, the vessel’s catamaran hull handles river currents well, perfect for the Ganga.

Challenges like scaling up hydrogen supply and storage persist, but these pilot projects will smooth them out over time. Sonowal hailed it as a “new era” for waterways, and Vaishnaw called the train a “proud moment” for Indian engineering.

As India races towards its 2070 net-zero goal, these launches prove action speaks louder than words. They beautifully blend age-old traditions like Ganga cruises and rail journeys with cutting-edge green technology. Local jobs in shipyards and factories will multiply, driving economic growth, while more such projects position India to lead the world in affordable clean transport.

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