All you need to know about the rail projects launched by Modi in Bihar

Madhepura: In this picture provided by Indian Railway Ministry, shows a rail locomotive plant where India’s first 12,000 Horsepower electric engine is being produced, at Madhepura in Bihar. The trail of prototype locomotive is planned in May and is expected to be put in service by July 2018.

Madhepura: In this picture provided by Indian Railway Ministry, shows a rail locomotive plant where India’s first 12,000 Horsepower electric engine is being produced, at Madhepura in Bihar. The trail of prototype locomotive is planned in May and is expected to be put in service by July 2018.   | Photo Credit: PTI

Narendra Modi flagged off the first run of the Champaran Humsafar Express between Katihar and Old Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched three rail projects in Bihar's Motihari on Tuesday. The Prime Minister was in Motihari to attend an event to mark 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi’s Champaran Satyagraha, with the aim of spreading the message of Swachh Bharat. While there, he flagged off the first run of the Champaran Humsafar Express between Katihar and Old Delhi, and also the country's first 12,000-hp electric freight locomotive which was assembled at the Madhepura factory. He also laid the foundation of track-doubling projects in Bihar.

The Champaran Hamsafar Express:

    The AC train for the common man will connect Katihar and Delhi with 15 stops on the way.

    The train will run bi-weekly — Tuesdays and Fridays — covering a distance of 1,383 km, said an official statement.

    The Champaran Humsafar Express aims to facilitate faster and comfortable journey for the people of north Bihar

    The train is a fully air-conditioned 3-tier service.

    The Express has GPS-based LED display system for giving information on stations and train speed.

    It also has disabled-friendly integrated Braille displays.

    Each coach has a small pantry unit equipped with tea, coffee vending machine, hot box and refrigerator.

    The toilets in the train also have baby nappy changing pads

    The new train is the third named after the Champaran region in Bihar from where Mahatma Gandhi started his non-violent movement ‘Champaran Satyagrah’ against the British. The other two trains are the Champaran Express and the Champaran Satyagraha.

Highlights of the loco factory in Madhepura

    The loco factory in Madhepura, a joint venture between Indian Railways and French manufacturing firm Alstom, has a capacity to manufacture 110 locomotives per year.

    The Railways has set a target of manufacturing 800 locos (five assembled and 795 manufactured) over a period of 11 years

    The 800 locos are part of a €3.5-billion order signed in 2015, notes Alstom.

    The rail factory project was approved in 2007, but the work had been pending for eight years, Mr. Modi said.

    “Firstly, this is a glowing example of ‘Make in India’ and second, this factory is becoming a medium of generating employment in this area,” the Prime Minister said after flagging of the locomotive.

    According to Alstom, due to the loco's 12,000 horsepower, each double section locomotive has a hauling capacity of 6,000 tonnes and speed of 120km/hr, allowing faster movement of heavier freight trains across the country. The power of the larger freight hauling locomotives in India till now was about 6,000 hp.

(With inputs from PTI)