Facing relentless growth in passenger numbers and mounting pressure on already crowded stations, Indian Railways has set its sights on a major overhaul of how trains begin their journeys across the country. The national transporter plans to double the number of trains originating from 48 key cities by 2030, a move aimed at easing congestion, improving punctuality, and preparing the network for future demand.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw underscored the intent behind the initiative, saying, “We’re expanding coaching terminals and enhancing sectional and operational capacities across various cities to address growing passenger demand and reduce congestion. This initiative will upgrade our railway network and improve connectivity nationwide.”
Growing Demand Forces Rethink
Railway officials say the decision comes at a time when passenger traffic has been rising consistently, pushing major terminals close to saturation. Several metropolitan stations now struggle to handle additional services, leading to operational bottlenecks that affect train schedules and passenger experience. Without large-scale upgrades, accommodating future growth would become increasingly difficult.
According to the Railway Ministry, infrastructure expansion is no longer optional but essential to ensure that rail travel remains reliable in the years ahead.
What the Plan Seeks to Fix
At its core, the programme is designed to allow more trains to start from busy urban centres without overwhelming existing facilities. By increasing originating capacity, Indian Railways aims to spread traffic more evenly, reduce delays caused by congestion, and strengthen both daily commuter networks and long-distance services.
Improved operational efficiency and better use of station infrastructure are expected to translate into smoother journeys for passengers.
Massive Infrastructure Push Planned
To reach the 2030 target, Indian Railways will roll out a series of upgrades across terminals and sections. Existing stations will see new platforms added, while stabling lines, pit lines, and shunting arrangements will be expanded. New terminal stations are also planned in and around cities to take the load off traditional hubs.
Maintenance capabilities will be enhanced through the development of new facilities, including large coaching complexes. Alongside this, signalling improvements, traffic facility works, and multi-tracking projects will be undertaken to increase line capacity and support higher train volumes.
Nearby Stations to Share the Load
Rather than concentrating all expansion at a single terminal, planners are looking at surrounding stations as part of a broader city-level strategy. The Ministry explained, “While planning for increasing the capacity of terminals, stations around terminals will also be considered so that capacity is evenly balanced. For example, for Pune city, Hadapsar, Khadki and Alandi have been considered for increasing capacity along with increasing platforms and stabling lines at Pune station.”
Both suburban and non-suburban services will be covered, with planners accounting for the different operational needs of commuter and long-distance trains.
Cities Covered Under the Expansion
The capacity-doubling exercise will span 48 major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Patna, Lucknow, Pune, Nagpur, Varanasi, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Mathura, Ayodhya, Agra, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Indore, Bhopal, Ujjain, Jammu, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Vadodara, Surat, Madgaon, Kochi, Puri, Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Haridwar, Guwahati, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Mysuru, Coimbatore, Tatanagar, Ranchi, Raipur, and Bareilly.
Phased Execution Over Five Years
Although the end goal is set for 2030, passengers are expected to see improvements much sooner. The Ministry has directed zonal railways to roll out upgrades in stages over the next five years. Projects will be grouped into immediate, short-term, and long-term actions, each with specific timelines and outcomes.
Officials said zonal railways have been asked to look beyond terminals alone. “While the exercise is for specific stations, however, each Zonal Railway (ZR) should plan for increasing the capacity of trains running over their divisions so that not only terminal capacity is increased but also the sectional capacity and operational constraints at stations or yards are also addressed,” the Ministry said.
Once finalised, detailed city-wise plans will be submitted to the Planning Directorate to ensure coordinated and time-bound execution.
