Indian Railways was able to complete 200 long-pending infrastructure works during the lean traffic period due to the pandemic that has led to doubling the speed of freight trains from where it was a year ago, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday.

Goyal said that today a cargo train from Mumbai reaches Guwahati in approximately two and a half days compared to the earlier timeline of 7 days.

Addressing a “smart railways conclave” organised by apex business chamber FICCI, the minister said, “It was the collective effort of Indian railways along with industry that led to this successful transition. Freight trains now will be a part of a zero-based timetable.”

The minister highlighted the fact that the Railway Ministry has converted the Covid-19 infused lockdown adversity into an opportunity resulting in long term gains.

Goyal informed that the Indian Railways have taken up 40 smart yards for maintenance. The plan is to make them fully mechanized with safety being the topmost priority. Also highlighting electrification as a ‘smart thing to do’, the Minister mentioned that by aiming to eliminate the entire diesel ecosystem, Indian Railways sees huge cost saving.

The FICCI-CRISIL knowledge paper- Indian Railways 2.0: Re-claiming Pole Position in Freight Transport, was released at the inaugural session of the conclave by the Minister. “This comprehensive document will help navigate the Indian Railways story to keep it in sync with contemporary times and ensure that we have a futuristic vision for the Indian Railways,” he said.