INDIA: This concise weekly review presents a selection of Indian railway news published from August 1 to August 7, 2026: infrastructure projects, safety technology, passenger capacity and freight regulation.

Kernex has won a ₹66.62 crore Kavach contract from ICF for onboard equipment, train integration, testing and commissioning.
Kernex has won a ₹66.62 crore Kavach contract from ICF for onboard equipment, train integration, testing and commissioning.

Infrastructure and major projects

Western Railway opens the Sarkhej–Dholera EPC tender

Western Railway opened a ₹18,901.68 crore EPC tender for the 134 km double-track Sarkhej–Dholera semi-high-speed corridor in Gujarat. The package combines civil works, track, electrification, signalling, telecommunications and commissioning, with separate spurs for Dholera International Airport and Lothal. The contract allows 42 months for completion, while the wider project was approved at ₹20,667 crore with a 2030–31 target.

Bihar capacity project approved around Patna

Indian Railways approved the ₹976 crore Danapur–Fatuha expansion across 29 km of East Central Railway around Patna. New third and fourth lines are planned on several sections, and the completed project is expected to create paths for 22 additional passenger and 18 freight trains per day, plus 5.2 million tonnes of annual freight capacity. No construction start or completion date was disclosed.

Border rail proposal reaches ₹45,000 crore

A proposed ₹45,000 crore programme would add tracks, platforms and network reinforcements across several Indian border states over 18 to 24 months. The reported plan covers Punjab, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam and northeastern states, but the Ministry of Railways has not confirmed the investment. No formal project list, approval document or state-by-state allocation has been published.

Court removes a permitting obstacle for bullet train power supply

Bombay High Court approved mangrove felling for a 13.06 km, 132 kV Dahanu–Amberserai connection serving the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail project in Palghar. The ruling permits removal of 847 mangroves and clears a permitting obstacle for the proposed traction substation connection. It does not mean the line or substation has been commissioned, and no completion date was given.

Safety and railway technology

Kavach 4.0 is commissioned across 2,633 route km

Indian Railways has commissioned Kavach Version 4.0 across 2,633 route km on the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah corridors, while trackside deployment continues across 21,794 route km. The railway has equipped 6,290 locomotives, with work continuing on another 7,190 locomotives and 1,200 EMU/MEMU coaches. The current programme has no single disclosed completion date.

Kernex wins an ICF Kavach onboard contract

Kernex Microsystems secured a ₹66.62 crore order from Integral Coach Factory to supply, integrate, test and commission onboard Kavach equipment for EMU and MEMU trains. The contract includes warranty and maintenance support and is due for completion by 31 March 2028. The disclosure does not state how many trains will receive the equipment, so commissioning remains a future milestone.

Bihar MEMU fire damages two railcars

A fire on Train 63344 at Simri Bakhtiyarpur station in Bihar damaged two MEMU railcars, but all passengers escaped without injury. Rail traffic was suspended for about two hours while firefighters extinguished the blaze, delaying four services. East Central Railway has ordered an inquiry; initial reports mentioned a possible short circuit, but officials had not confirmed the cause.

Passenger capacity and freight regulation

Rewa Vande Bharat temporarily doubles to 16 coaches

West Central Railway temporarily doubled the Rewa–Rani Kamlapati Vande Bharat from eight to 16 coaches, raising capacity from 530 to 1,128 seats. The change adds 598 seats per service in both directions and is scheduled from 7 August through 24 October 2026. The railway cited rising demand and operational requirements, but no permanent expansion or route-specific demand figures were announced.

Nationwide container licence replaces route categories

Indian Railways approved a single nationwide licence for container train operators, replacing route-category permissions with one All India authorisation and a ₹25 crore registration fee for new applicants. Existing operators can retain current licences until expiry and have migration options under the amended framework. A Gazette Notification is still required, so the new arrangement is approved but not yet operational for every operator.

Export engineering

RITES adapts an Indian locomotive for standard gauge in Australia

RITES is developing a 1,435 mm standard-gauge diesel locomotive prototype for an Australian customer by adapting an in-service Indian Railways unit. The project redesigns the running gear while retaining the existing powertrain and other critical systems, with testing and customer validation expected next. RITES has not disclosed the locomotive class, customer, testing location or detailed validation programme.

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