New Delhi, Jan 19 (KNN) As the government is putting greater focus on modernising its rolling stock (trains, coaches and wagons), the Railways is likely to get an allocation of nearly Rs 1.9 lakh crore in the Union Budget, reported Times of India quoting a source.

As per the report, there may be big announcements for railways in the upcoming Budget, including a plan to roll out 35 hydrogen-fuelled trains, around 400-500 Vande Bharat trains, nearly 4,000 newly designed automobile carrier coaches and approximately 58,000 wagons, all of which may be rolled out in the next three years.

The Indian government has been focusing a lot on achieving its target of net zero carbon emission by 2030.

Recently, railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had said that the railways would run hydrogen-fuelled trains on eight heritage routes such as in Darjeeling, Nilgiris, Kalka-Shimla and Kangra Valley, with an aim to make these routes completely green.

The railways is manufacturing a prototype hydrogen fuel-based train at the Northern Railway workshop. It would be test-run on the Sonipat-Jind section in Haryana.

The government is also planning to manufacture 100 Vistadome coaches and refurbishment of 1,000 coaches of premier trains under the rolling stock programme, which will be spread over three years, at an estimated cost of around Rs 2.7 lakh crore, reported TOI quoting a source.

To strengthen safety of passengers in the light of several cases of fire, the railways is planning to provide water mist-based fire extinguishers in 1,000 coaches.  (KNN Bureau)