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Anticipation is steadily building for the Union Budget of 2024, which President Murmu has hinted could be “historic”. Stakeholders are optimistic about policies aimed at enhancing domestic production and fostering economic growth. Consumers, on the other hand, eagerly await the potential benefits coming their way—including ones from the upcoming <keyword id="12026484" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Railway-budget" source="Orion">Railway budget</keyword>. According to reports thus far, the Union Budget of 2024 is expected to place a significant emphasis on the Railway industry—one of the three cores of the Indian economy. This time, there is a strong expectation that the Railway budget will address various consumer-centric issues, including travel safety and overall experience quality. As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares to present the Union Budget on July 23, here are some key expectations for the Railway industry: <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Highest-ever allocation for Indian Railways budget" comment="subhead" text="Highest-ever allocation for Indian Railways budget">Highest-ever allocation for <keyword id="6355455" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Railways" source="Orion">Indian Railways</keyword> budget</cmsannotation> <keyword id="15478236" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-2024" source="Orion">Budget 2024</keyword> is anticipated to heavily focus on several aspects of the railway sector. In the interim budget of 2024, the <keyword id="19905911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Railways" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ministry of Railways" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Ministry of Railways">Ministry of Railways</keyword> was allocated Rs 2.55 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2024-25. However, the upcoming budget is expected to increase this allocation significantly, ET NOW reports. It could potentially reach Rs 3 lakh crore, marking the highest-ever allocation for this sector. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Increased focus on passenger safety and capacity" comment="subhead" text="Increased focus on passenger safety and capacity">Increased focus on passenger safety and capacity</cmsannotation> During the Lok Sabha elections, the <keyword id="6360676" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="railways" source="Orion">railways</keyword> ministry faced significant criticism for various safety incidents and overcrowding in general coaches. To address these issues, the ministry is expected to allocate substantial funds to prevent operational mishaps, expand rail capacity and reduce congestion, the Business Standard reports. The government is expected to focus on the implementation of Kavach, an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection System. Experts welcome the government’s emphasis on safety upgrades, particularly the network-wide implementation of train protection systems and the mechanisation of maintenance operations. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Enhancing passenger travel experience and quality" comment="subhead" text="Enhancing passenger travel experience and quality">Enhancing passenger travel experience and quality</cmsannotation> The budget is also anticipated to focus on improving facilities for passengers, modernising amenities and enhancing the overall quality of railway travel, as per Goodreturns. Capital expenditure will likely be directed towards upgrading coaches, with an initial plan to upgrade 40,000 bogies, and improving sanitation facilities. Passenger comfort and safety will continue to be priorities as the public increasingly values comfort over cost. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Possible reinstatement of Senior Citizen Railway Concession" comment="subhead" text="Possible reinstatement of Senior Citizen Railway Concession">Possible reinstatement of <keyword id="22455972" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Senior-Citizen-Railway-Concession" source="keywords">Senior Citizen Railway Concession</keyword></cmsannotation> There is growing anticipation about the potential reinstatement of the Senior Citizen Railway Concession during Budget 2024, according to Business Today. This move is seen as particularly significant ahead of the upcoming general elections later this year. In March 2020, the Indian Railways discontinued discounts on train fares for senior citizens and women, requiring them to pay full fares like other passengers. Previously, the Senior Citizen Railway Concession was available for all classes of mail and express trains. Reports and RTI inquiries have revealed that the withdrawal of these concessions led to significant additional revenue for the Railways. During the suspension period, the Indian Railways accrued Rs 5,062 crore from eight crore senior citizens, with Rs 2,242 crore resulting from the absence of concessions. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Prioritising infrastructure spending" comment="subhead" text="Prioritising infrastructure spending">Prioritising infrastructure spending</cmsannotation> The <keyword id="19935166" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget-2024" source="keywords">Union Budget 2024</keyword> is expected to prioritise infrastructure spending, the Goodreturns report adds. The focus is likely to be on rapid development and completion of tracks, rolling stock manufacturing and delivery of passenger freight services. Capital funds are likely to be allocated for expanding the metro network, NaMo Bharat corridors, Vande Bharat trains, high-speed corridors and economic corridors. Plans also include developing a high-speed rail network like the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route and allocating funds towards the Rapid Rail Transport System.

Union Budget 2024 for Railways: Expectations focused on improving passenger safety, experience, infrastructure

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia plans to spend $4 billion improving railroad connections with China, Bloomberg reported.</li><li>It's evidence of stronger ties between the two countries, as bilateral trade has soared.</li></ul>Moscow is doubling down on its trade partnership with Beijing, outlining plans to invest billions in two key rail lines, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-07/russia-to-bolster-famed-eastern-railroads-as-china-trade-booms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg</a> reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a shipping capacity increase on the Trans-Siberian and Baikal-Amur Mainline, railroads that link Russia with China to the south. Meanwhile, around $4 billion is set to be spent on railroad infrastructure, and further investments could be approved this month.It's a testament of tighter relations between the two nations, a partnership that has kept Russia afloat since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In January and February of this year, bilateral trade totaled $37 billion, with Chinese exports into Russia jumping <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-outlook-exports-trade-war-russia-partnership-us-sanctions-2024-3?mrfhud=true">12.5%</a>. It's a momentum that extends from 2023's record volumes when trade totaled $240 billion."The two sides' political mutual trust continues to deepen. Russian natural gas is reaching households in China, while Chinese cars are driving on the streets of Russia," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said last week, describing the relationship as a "new paradigm."Emphasis on rail improvements could also be a result of Russia's rising sea route difficulties, as Western sanctions increasingly <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/russia-shadow-fleet-oil-tankers-sanctions-ukraine-enforcement-price-cap2024-2">curtail Moscow's efforts</a> to export crude and other commodities. Recent months have witnessed tighter enforcement of a Group of Seven price cap on Russian oil, leading to sanctions on <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/russia-sanction-oil-tankers-shadow-fleet-crude-exports-price-cap-2024-2">50 vessels</a> by early February.The West's stricter approach is also eroding Russian trade with other key markets. For instance, Indian refineries have demonstrated <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/russia-oil-trade-crude-india-discount-barrel-sanctions-price-cap-2024-2">diminishing willingness</a> to pick up Russia's products, despite becoming the biggest buyer of Moscow's seaborne crude in 2023.Russia's Energy Ministry is seeking priority to move oil by rail, Bloomberg said. This year could also offer fresh details on the creation of two new railroad connections with China by 2030, adding to the four pre-existing links.Still, major investment is necessary as logistical issues plague the country's rail lines. In 2023, the railroads managed 13% less goods than their stated capacity allowed — bottlenecks were a norm even before Putin's war added to demand, which is now twice as high than what the system can handle. The planned boost will bring shipping capacity on the two cited railroads to 210 million tons by 2030, compared with 150.5 million tons in 2023.

Russia is pouring billions into rail-system upgrades as trade with China surges

The people have high expectations from the <keyword id="4183143" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rail-budget" source="Orion">Rail Budget</keyword> as the Union Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="Orion">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> will present her fifth <keyword id="6358021" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="budget" source="Orion">Budget</keyword> on February 1. In its first term, the Modi government the Centre had linked the Rail Budget with the General Budget, under which the money for the <keyword id="6356740" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="railway" source="Orion">Railway</keyword>s is now provided. According to the information, the Centre is going to increase the Railway Budget this time by up to 20 per cent. Earlier, in the pre-Budget meeting, the Railway Board demanded 25-30 per cent more funds in the allocation of the Finance Ministry. In such a situation, the government can give a fund of about Rs 2 trillion to the Ministry of <keyword id="6360676" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="railways" source="Orion">Railways</keyword> in the Budget leading to an atmosphere of enthusiasm in sectors related to the Railways. There have also been various demands from the passengers. This is the last full Budget of the Modi government before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Along with this, before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, elections will be held in 10 states of the country in this year, including big states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana and Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram in the Northeast. Elections can be held in Jammu and Kashmir this year. In this Railway Budget, the Central government can announce many new railway facilities for passengers. It is believed that this time, the Rail Budget can prove to be an election budget, especially in those states where elections are to be held. This may result in some special announcements from the Centre for these states. However, the Union Ministry of Railways so far has achieved Rs 42,370 crore more revenue as compared to the previous financial year. The Railway's income has increased by 71 per cent, whereas earlier in 2021, there was a loss of Rs 26,338 crore, which led to the government decreasing the concessions provided to the common people. In view of the strong figures of Railways earnings, people from all sections have raised demands to again implement the subsidies, including the one where senior citizens above 60 years of age used to get up to 50 per cent discount before the Covid-19 pandemic, which has now been discontinued. According to the Railways, there is no plan in this Budget to give concession in rail tickets to senior citizens. The Central government will invest mostly in the modernisation of the Railways. Railways have also been focusing on building better domestic infrastructure for manufacturing trains. In this, plans are also being made to reduce foreign dependence. In this Budget, emphasis can be laid on making new Vande Bharat Express trains and Vande Bharat 2.0 with sleeper berth facilities. This train will work like the Rajdhani Express in which passengers will get the facility of sleeper AC coaches. In the Rail Budget 2023, a scheme of Rs 2.70 lakh crore can be announced for 500 Vande Bharat trains, 35 hydrogen trains, 5000 LHB coaches and 58000 wagons. Significantly, during the announcement of the last Rail Budget, the Finance Minister announced the National Rail Plan 2030, under which preparations were made for the development of the Railways. The Centre had talked about investing Rs 1 lakh crore, for the same. By December 2023, 100 per cent electrification of broad gauge railways will be completed. Similarly, a metro rail system is being prepared in two cities of the Tier-2 category and outer parts of Tier-1 category cities, under which Indian Railways will become the world's first 100 per cent green rail service by the end of this year. Along with this, the Centre can announce the adoption of hyperloop technology in the rail budget. In this, pods carrying passengers travel through tubes or tunnels. This technology is faster than bullet trains. Along with this, the government can make announcements regarding infrastructure in this Budget. However, under Vision 2024 projects, in the second half of the decade, multitracking and signalling upgrades of congested routes are targeted, in addition to the commissioning of new dedicated freight corridors and high-speed passenger corridors. The new railway track will be a part of the new vision document of Indian Railways and will be completed in a phased manner. In the next financial year, a target of laying about 4,000 km long lines can be fixed. An announcement to electrify a 7,000 km broad gauge line in the upcoming Budget can also be expected with an allocation of Rs 10,000 crore. With the electrification of a 7,000 km long broad gauge line, the target of electrifying the entire railway network will be achieved. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/govt-may-not-announce-capital-infusion-for-psu-banks-in-budget-2023-24/articleshow/97247553.cms">Govt may not announce capital infusion for PSU banks in Budget 2023-24</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/canara-bank-q3-profit-surges-92-to-2882-crore/articleshow/97245895.cms">Canara Bank Q3 profit surges 92% to ₹2,882 crore</a>

Railway Ministry sets in motion ₹ 2-trillion budgetary push

New Delhi, <keyword id="19896381" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nifty" source="keywords">Nifty</keyword> 50 reached an all-time high of 22,171 largely propelled by the performance of financial and energy stocks, says <keyword id="20065391" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shailesh-saraf" source="keywords">Shailesh Saraf</keyword>, smallcase Manager and Founder Value Stocks. Following the recent decline in the <keyword id="20643656" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-public-sector-undertakings" source="keywords">Indian Public Sector Undertakings</keyword> (PSUs) and banking stocks, investors are seeking bargains in these stocks during the ongoing market upturn, indicating that the PSU sector remains of interest to bullish investors, he said. Technically the Nifty PSE index had rebounded from the 20 SMA level on February 13 and is currently trading near its all-time high levels of 9,564. Additionally, small-cap and mid-cap indices continue to outperform the primary benchmark indices. This can be seen in the intraday performance of power and railway stocks, he said. The Nifty energy index also saw a 0.7 per cent increase, intraday. <keyword id="20641088" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tata-power-company" source="keywords">Tata Power Company</keyword> witnessed a 2 per cent surge following the receipt of a letter of intent for the acquisition of a power project valued at 8.38 billion INR ($101 million). <keyword id="20328612" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="titagarh-rail-systems" source="keywords">Titagarh Rail Systems</keyword> Ltd witnessed a surge of more than 8 per cent after announcing that it secured an order from the defence ministry for the purchase of 250 specialized wagons. Titagarh Rail Systems' stock rose sharply by 8.5 per cent to Rs 1037.55, he said.

Nifty at all-time high as energy and financial stocks surge

Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> and his Bangladeshi counterpart <keyword id="66026" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sheikh-hasina" source="Orion">Sheikh Hasina</keyword> jointly inaugurated three Indian-assisted development projects via video conferencing on Wednesday. The three projects are the Akhaura- Agartala Cross-Border <keyword id="48829" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rail-link" source="Orion">Rail Link</keyword>, Khulna - Mongla Port Rail Line and Unit - II of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant in Rampal, <keyword id="6354759" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bangladesh" source="Orion">Bangladesh</keyword>. The inauguration of rail and power sector projects between India and Bangladesh lay focus on strengthened ties and partnership between the two countries. "The joint inauguration of these important projects manifests the firm friendship and collaboration between our two friendly countries. I would like to thank PM Modi for the warm hospitality during my visit in September 2023 to attend the G20 Summit," the Bangladesh Prime Minister said "I express my gratitude for your commitment to strengthening the bonds of friendship between our two countries, Sheikh Hasina said. The Akhaura-Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link project has been executed under a Government of India grant assistance of Rs 392.52 crore extended to Bangladesh. The length of the rail link is 12.24 km with a 6.78 km Dual Gauge rail line in Bangladesh and 5.46 km in Tripura. The Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line Project has been implemented under the Government of India's concessional Line of Credit with a total project cost of USD 388.92 million. The project entails the construction of approximately 65 km of broad gauge rail route between Mongla Port and the existing rail network in Khulna. With this, Mongla, the second largest port of Bangladesh, gets connected with the broad-gauge railway network. The Maitree Super Thermal Power Project, under an Indian Concessional Financing Scheme loan of 1.6 billion US dollars, is a 1320 MW Super Thermal Power Plant located in Rampal in Khulna Division of Bangladesh. The project has been implemented by the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited which is a 50:50 Joint Venture company between India's NTPC Ltd and Bangladesh Power Development Board. These projects will strengthen connectivity and energy security in the region. During the inauguration ceremony, Sheikh Hasina also extended greetings to Prime Minister Modi and the people of India in advance of Diwali. "I would conclude her by conveying warm greetings in advance for the upcoming Diwali. I wish Your Excellency PM Modi and the people of India a very Happy Diwali," the Bangladesh Prime Minister said. Over the last decade, the Bangladesh-India Friendship Dialogue has served as a critical platform for strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations. The theme of this year's Dialogue is 'Fostering a comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership', BNN News reported. Earlier this March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, a cross-border energy pipeline, built at an estimated cost of Rs 377 crore, of which the Bangladesh portion of the pipeline was built at a cost of approx. Rs 285 crore, which has been borne by the Government of India under grant assistance, read Prime Minister's Office press release. The Pipeline has the capacity to transport 1 Million Metric Ton Per Annum (MMTPA) of High-Speed Diesel (HSD). It will supply High-Speed Diesel initially to seven districts in northern Bangladesh. The operation of India- Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline will put in place a sustainable, reliable, cost-effective and environment-friendly mode of transporting HSD from India to Bangladesh. Moreover, in September, the 15th Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade (JWG) between India and Bangladesh was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where the two nations discussed various bilateral issues, including removal of port restrictions, the groundwork for the commencement of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The meeting was co-chaired by the Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Vipul Bansal and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Government of Bangladesh, Noor Md. Mahbubul Haq. The Joint Working Group on Trade (JWG) Meetings between India and Bangladesh are held annually to discuss key trade-related issues and "explore opportunities for economic and technical collaboration, promotion, facilitation, expansion and diversification of trade between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit." Moreover, these meetings play a crucial role in quickly resolving bilateral issues by removing trade barriers, simplifying customs procedures, improvement of infrastructure, logistics, and transit facilities to facilitate smoother cross-border trade.

India, Bangladesh ties: Rail, power sector projects inaugurated by PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina

<keyword id="6358777" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="New-Delhi">New Delhi</keyword>, As the three <keyword id="1298889" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="high-speed-rail-corridors">high speed rail corridors</keyword> are expected to start from Delhi for Amritsar, Ahmedabad and Varanasi, the national capital is likely to get two <keyword id="10681168" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="high-speed-rail-stations">high speed rail stations</keyword> in different areas, officials related to development said on Sunday. National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) spokesperson Sushma Gaur said, "NHSRCL is exploring all the possibilities to plan two high speed rail stations in Delhi." She said that one of the stations is in close proximity of Sarai Kale Khan and Nizamuddin railway station for Delhi-Varanasi high speed rail corridor, which may provide road connectivity to the high speed rail users through outer ring road, metro connectivity through pink line metro, interstate bus connectivity through Sarai Kale Khan ISBT and regional rail connectivity through RRTS system. The NHSRCL has started the aerial LiDAR survey for the 800km Delhi-Varanasi high speed rail corridor earlier this month. She said that the tenders related to <keyword id="387162" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="data-collection">data collection</keyword> and various other activities including LiDAR survey, required for the preparation of Detail Project Reports for Delhi-Varanasi, for which the first draft of the DPR has already been submitted. The NHSRCL on January 10 this year launched the LiDAR survey for the Delhi-Varanasi route from Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida, wherein a helicopter fitted with state-of-the-art aerial LiDAR and imagery sensors will capture data related to the ground survey along the proposed route. Another official related to the development told IANS that there will be two high speed rail stations in the Gautam Budha Nagar. Another official related to the development said that one of the high-speed rail station will come up near the proposed Jewar International Airport while the another one near Sector 148 in Noida. Talking about another station of the High Speed rail in Delhi, she said, "Locations are being explored for the other station for Delhi-Ahmedabad and Delhi-Amritsar high speed rail corridor, in close proximity of Sector-21, Dwarka Metro station and Bijwasan Railway station." She said that this may provide connectivity to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport and central Delhi through Airport Express Metro Line and West Delhi, Central Delhi, East Delhi and Noida through Blue line Metro Line, upcoming <keyword id="9565" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="International-Convention-Centre">International Convention Centre</keyword> at Sector-25 and Gurugram. The Delhi-Amritsar-Chandigarh is 459 km long high speed rail corridor while the Delhi-Ahmedabad is 886 km long High speed rail corridor. The official said that the high speed rail stations in the national capital will be finalised only after the DPRs are submitted. Besides these three corridors, the <keyword id="76223" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Railways">Ministry of Railways</keyword> has entrusted the work to the NHSRCL to carry out the detailed project report (DPR) for the 711-km-long Mumbai-Hyderabad high-speed rail corridor, which will pass through Pune; 753-km-long Mumbai-Nagpur and as well as the 711-km-long Mumbai-Hyderabad bullet train corridor. The NHSRCL has also invited tenders for preparing the DPR for the 435-km-long Chennai-Mysuru and 760-km-long Varanasi-Howrah high speed rail corridors'. The NHSRCL is collecting data on these new proposed corridors for the preparation of the DPRs. LiDAR survey alignment or ground survey is a crucial activity for any linear infrastructure project as it provides accurate details of areas around the alignment. This technique uses a combination of laser data, GPS data, flight parameters and actual photographs to give accurate survey data. "Based on the findings of the survey, designing of the vertical and horizontal alignment, structures, location of the stations and depots, land requirement for the corridor, identification of project affected plots/structures, right of way etc are decided," Gaur said. The work on the 508 km Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train project is also in full swing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his then Japanese counterpart <keyword id="590894" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shinzo-Abe">Shinzo Abe</keyword> had laid the foundation stone for the MAHSR corridor on September 14, 2017. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/article/the-many-marvels-of-satpura-biosphere-reserve/articleshow/80598269.cms">The many marvels of Satpura Biosphere Reserve in Madhya Pradesh</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/india-travel-and-tourism-sector-is-hoping-that-the-budget-2021-wont-leave-them-behind/articleshow/80596702.cms">India’s travel and tourism sector is hoping that the Budget won’t leave them behind</a>

Delhi likely to get two stations under three proposed Bullet train projects

<ul><li>A total of ₹ 32,000 crore will be paid to the winning bidder over a period of 35 years for the maintenance of these trains.</li><li>The financial bids will be opened in the next 45 days.</li><li>The <keyword id="46754" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="vande" source="Orion">Vande</keyword> Bharat trains are expected to be a big upgrade from the premium Rajdhani Express service. </li></ul> State-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has formed a consortium with <keyword id="112351" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="titagarh-wagons" source="Orion">Titagarh Wagons</keyword> and is among five entities which have bid for the mega ₹ 58,000 crore contract to manufacture 200 Vande Bharat trains and maintaining them for the next 35 years. Other players in the fray include French railway major Alstom; Medha-Stadler consortium between Swiss railway rolling stock manufacturer <keyword id="6793633" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="stadler-rail" source="Orion">Stadler Rail</keyword> and Hyderabad-based Media Servo Drives; Siemens along with BEML, and Russian rolling stock manufacturer <keyword id="6632056" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="transmashholding" source="Orion">Transmashholding</keyword> (TMH) along with an Indian firm. Officials said while ₹ 26,000 crore is the upfront payment on the delivery of the trains, ₹ 32,000 crore will be paid to the winning bidder over a period of 35 years for the maintenance of these trains. The <keyword id="6355455" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="indian-railways" source="Orion">Indian Railways</keyword> is now evaluating technical bids for the contract. The financial bids will be opened in the next 45 days. According to the tender document, the successful bidder has to produce a prototype of the sleeper class for Vande Bharat trains within 24 months. The Indian Railways is targeting to roll out the first sleeper version of Vande Bharat train by the first quarter of 2024. Till now, the railways has awarded contracts for manufacture of 102 Vande Bharat trains which are all chair car. The Vande Bharat trains are expected to be a big upgrade from the premium Rajdhani Express service. The sleeper class-version of these trains will be run on the routes to cover overnight rail journey like New Delhi-Patna, New Delhi-Lucknow and others. After four years of intensive work and planning, country's first and the second Vande Bharat trains as electric multiple units at semi-high speed, were flagged off by Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> in 2019 on the New Delhi-Varanasi and New Delhi-Katra in J&amp;K routes. The first VB train was flagged on the New Delhi-Varanasi route and the second one was on New Dehi-Katra route to provide fast rail transportation from the national capital to these pilgrim cities. The railway ministry is also working towards exporting these trains by 2026 to cover the international markets of South Africa and European countries. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/long-covid-linked-with-increased-body-weight-study/articleshow/95906210.cms">Long Covid linked with increased body weight : Study</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/indias-mfg-pmi-hits-3-month-high-in-nov-amid-expansion-in-production-slowdown-in-inflation-sp/articleshow/95905921.cms">India's mfg PMI hits 3-month high in Nov amid expansion in production, slowdown in inflation: S&amp;P</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/wipro-infrastructure-engineering-acquires-pune-based-linecraft-ai-for-an-undisclosed-sum/articleshow/95905792.cms">Wipro Infrastructure Engineering acquires Pune-based Linecraft.ai for an undisclosed sum</a>

BHEL among 5 bidders for Rs 58,000 cr deal to manufacture, maintain 200 Vande Bharat trains

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, is ranting at military leaders and even taking what looked like a veiled shot at Putin.</li><li>Putin plays his factions off one another, which can fuel their anger. That fury has come out publicly.</li></ul>The tide has turned against Russian mercenaries in the Ukraine war's fiercest battle, and their boss is going off the rails.He has ripped into top military leaders, and even taken what looked like a veiled shot at the Russian president. He has also made shocking threats to withdraw his troops and to release details of Russian military failures if his forces don't get the ammo they need.Russians have ended up dead or in prison for far less.The taunts and tirades of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the paramilitary Wagner Group who has become one of Russia's most prominent voices in the conflict, are increasingly laying bare apparent rifts in the Russian war effort, and undermining Russian President Vladimir Putin.Putin has recently appeared to shift his support away from Prigozhin in favor of the defense ministry, which oversees the vast majority of Russian troops but has come under harsh criticism for bungled operations. That shift seems to be <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-yevgeny-prigozhin-russian-tycoon-and-vladimir-putin-confidant-2022-10#prighozin-also-head-up-other-companies-and-financed-one-that-has-been-accused-of-meddling-with-the-us-election-5">fueling Prigozhin's anger</a>. Though he strikes hardest at the defense ministry, he has apparently aimed his frustrations at Putin as well.According to Kateryna Stepanenko, an expert on the Russian military at the Institute for the Study of War, these internal tensions are of Putin's own making, but he may have little choice but to let them play out."He sets up a very toxic environment where he only allows one faction to capture his attention at a time," Stepanenko said of Putin. "He switches between teams, and that forces the two factions to compete against each other."<div type="image" title="Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin" height="1000" width="1500" msid="100210642" hostid="261"></div><h2>Prigozhin's endless fury</h2>Wagner's forces have played a crucial role in Russian combat operations in Ukraine, which allowed Prigozhin to expand the group at the expense of Russian military resources and push command decisions to Putin directly, often bypassing the defense ministry. But for months now, the mercenary forces, including Wagner's army of convicts, have been bogged down in the battle for Bakhmut, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-bakhmut-turned-into-slaughterfest-for-russia-us-top-general-2023-3">a horrific high-casualty fight</a>.During the intense fighting in Bakhmut, where the mercenaries have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/30000-wagner-group-fighters-killed-or-injured-ukraine-white-house-2023-2">suffered tremendous losses</a>, simmering tensions between the Russian defense ministry and the Wagner boss have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-and-wagner-troops-clashed-deadly-shootout-ukraine-claims-2023-4">boiled over</a>. With the replacement of Gen. Sergei Surovikin, an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/colleagues-describe-russian-commander-sergei-surovikin-as-ruthless-2022-10">infamous Russian leader</a> pushed by ultranationalists like Prigozhin, in January, the Russian defense ministry retook control.Prigozhin, a financier for the notorious paramilitary company and long-time Putin ally, has posted videos showing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wagner-boss-drops-photo-war-dead-blames-russian-military-leaders-2023-2">piles of Wagner corpses</a> as he <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wagner-boss-screams-swears-putins-war-chiefs-shoigu-gerasimov-2023-5">blasts Russian military leadership</a>, specifically Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Gen. Valery Gerasimov, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-demotes-sergei-surovikin-picks-new-head-of-ukraine-war-effort-2023-1">Surovikin's replacement</a> and the latest commander of Russian operations in Ukraine. Under this leadership, support for Wagner has drastically declined, infuriating Prigozhin.He blames them for the "shell hunger," as he calls the lack of ammunition and essential supplies that he says is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wagner-group-loses-103-soldiers-one-day-mercenary-boss-says-2023-5">costing the lives</a> of the men in his company. The situation got so bad for Wagner at one point that expert observers speculated that the Russian military was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bakhmut-russia-using-battle-decimate-wagner-group-think-tank-says-2023-3">purposefully decimating</a> the group.More recently, as the problems persisted for Wagner, Prigozhin <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russias-wagner-boss-threatens-bakhmut-withdrawal-due-to-lack-ammo-2023-4">threatened to withdraw</a> his forces from Bakhmut, a bold threat that he <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wagner-chief-troops-withdrawing-from-bakhmut-promised-ammo-2023-5">later walked back</a> after purportedly securing a promise to deliver the necessary ammunition from Russia's defense ministry.Beyond potentially jeopardizing operations around Bakhmut, the Institute for the Study of War <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/irregular-russian-commanders-undermine-top-general-war-efforts-ukraine-experts-2023-5">wrote in a recent update</a> on the war in Ukraine that "chain of command problems" caused by irregular commanders like Prigozhin seems to be "having a significant impact on the Russian military's ability to conduct coherent theater-wide operations."Prigozhin said he was threatened with treason over his assertions that Wagner forces would pull out of Bakhmut. That threat hasn't slowed him down or <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wagner-group-leader-increasingly-blames-putin-for-mercenary-deaths-2023-5">curbed his rants</a> though.When his forces did not receive the promised supplies and ammunition, Prigozhin posted a video threatening to release details of Russia's military failings if he didn't get ammo. He also mocked the Russian victory parade, and he seemingly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wagner-boss-prigozhin-mocks-putin-russia-ukraine-war-2023-5">hinted that Putin</a>, though the mercenary boss doesn't criticize him by name, might not be a kind "grandfather" but rather a "complete asshole." He later said he wasn't talking about Putin.It is not clear if the ammunition problems, which Stepanenko suspects Putin likely permitted as the Russian military conserves ammunition ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive, was ever resolved, but it does look like the Russian leader may be letting his commanders spar for influence."He is definitely pitting those two factions against one another," Stepanenko said of Putin's manipulation of Wagner and the defense ministry, adding that Putin "likely allowed the Russian Ministry of Defense to stop providing Wagner with shells in Bakhmut," the issue at the heart of much of the recent infighting."Putin," she said, "is definitely the mastermind that juggles the two of them."But, even if Prigozhin's concerns might have merit, a question lingers: How can he say what he does without consequence? And he's not the only one in this situation. Former FSB officer Igor Girkin is another outspoken nationalist who is now somewhere in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region."It's obviously a longstanding question," Stepanenko said. "Why are they able to do so when Russia is so repressive and is able to suppress any protests, arrest so many of the opposition leaders, and so on?"<div type="image" title="Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin makes a statement as he stand next to Wagner fighters in an undisclosed location in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in this still image taken from video released May 5, 2023." height="1403" width="2566" msid="100210644" hostid="261"></div><h2>Putin can't risk upsetting his ultranationalist allies</h2>"These ultranationalists, such as Prigozhin, serve as a source of recruitment for force generation efforts for Putin," who desperately wants to avoid another mobilization, which previously led to substantial discontent within Russian society, she explained.Prigozhin is a leading figure in the Russian ultranationalist network, which is a source of recruits and has a firm grip on key parts of the online information space in Russia. As the Wagner Group's head, he has promoted its culture of extreme violence as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-ally-yevgeny-prigozhin-says-he-sent-eu-parliament-sledgehammer-2022-11">symbolized</a> in a sledgehammer, a reference to the execution method for Wagner deserters. "Putin does not want to upset the ultranationalist community," Stepanenko said."He cannot just simply kill Prigozhin and expect that not to trigger some sort of reaction," she said. "He, of course, could, but that would undermine his appeal to the nationalists, who are the only people that are so inherently invested in his ideology and his belief in this war."Russia has created a tightly controlled information space by closely managing television, press, and radio and limiting social media platforms in the country, but in the remaining social media spaces, which are less restricted, the ultranationalists have found a place to share both information and disinformation on this war."Imagine if Putin decides to kill Prigozhin and frame it as an accident, that aspect of the information space is going to explode," Stepanenko said. Prigozhin knows how to weaponize information, and the nature of these spaces has been carefully crafted for a purpose.<div type="image" title="Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin addresses former convicts as he releases them from serving in his mercenary army, according to state-controlled media" height="1572" width="2868" msid="100210647" hostid="261"></div>Even amid the ranting, Prigozhin has demonstrated a cautiousness at times, clearly self-censoring to some degree when it comes to Putin, perhaps not wanting to completely severe those ties because there is a potential point where he risks becoming more hassle than he is helpful, especially if his value declines."Prigozhin still holds some value if he's able to operate," Stepanenko said. "I don't know how long that value is going to continue, if he's going to be able to retain that authority after his forces are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-battle-bakhmut-chance-wipe-out-wagner-army-convicts-russia-2023-3">fully depleted</a> or have to go through reconstitution, or if his recruitment rates fall down through Russia and Wagner is no longer an appealing private military company."At that point, Putin could opt to replace Prigozhin. Russia has already opened the door to new private military companies, which may be part of a play to de-emphasize Wagner.Notably though, Putin, as ISW noticed in a recent analysis of command changes, doesn't really fire anyone."Instead, he kind of rotates them out and then sends them to Syria" or somewhere else "despite major military failures on the battlefield," Stepanenko said. "I feel like that kind of approach that Putin takes also applies to the way he sees Prigozhin.""I think that Putin's way of leadership is he never really wants someone to fully hate him," she said. "Putin's approach is different in the sense that he gives hope. He gives hope that one day you can come back to power, one day can be heard, or one day you can impress enough to regain your position."But even if Putin can't really punish Prigozhin right now, an important part of why Russian leadership may tolerate outbursts by ultranationalists like Prigozhin is that the Kremlin feels like these leaders are not independent of it and that they require support to function, giving it leverage.Recent independent Russian media interviews with officials indicate that "the reason Prigozhin and all of these ultranationalists are allowed to operate is because the Kremlin really thinks that they're able to control them," Stepanenko said.And there's been some movement in that space. As Prigozhin makes one move, the Kremlin makes another, such as allowing the rationing of shells at his and his forces' expense or cutting his access to the recruitment of prisoners.The Kremlin is "thinking they can tolerate this because these ultranationalist figures, like Prigozhin, Girkin, and so on, they rely on some sort of supplies, military provision from the government, she said. "I think the Kremlin is playing that up right now." For now, though, the feuding and fighting continues.

Wagner boss Prigozhin is going off the rails in Ukraine, and Putin may not have much choice but to let him, war expert says

<ul><li><keyword id="6355455" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-railways">Indian Railways</keyword> has now started asking ‘destination address’ from all <keyword id="47725" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="passengers">passengers</keyword> for contact tracing if required. </li><li>Currently, the passengers undergo a mandatory thermal scanning before entering the station, and only passengers with no COVID symptoms are allowed to travel. </li><li>The <keyword id="244090" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rail-ministry">Rail Ministry</keyword> said the passengers who are disallowed from travelling on trains because of symptoms associated with the novel <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> would receive a full refund for their tickets.</li></ul>Indian Railways has now started asking the ‘destination address’ from all passengers while they are booking online tickets on IRCTC. The railways said it would help them in contact tracing in case of a positive coronavirus case. “With effect from May 13, IRCTC has started taking the destination address of all passengers, booking online tickets. This will help us in contact tracing, if required later,” said the <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1260808841358217218">Indian Railways</a>. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75731204" title="OYO and Mahindra Holidays’ new strategy is based on the premise that airlines are doomed for a while⁠— both Emirates and Boeing agree" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Till now the travellers were never asked for the destination address, but the Ministry thinks that in the wake of coronavirus it is important to keep track of people travelling by trains. The railways also decided to cancel all old bookings for regular trains scheduled till June 30 and provide a full refund for it. The cancelled tickets were booked during the lockdown period for travels in June. On May 12, Indian Railways also started running special trains to help stranded citizens of other states to reach home. Currently, booking of tickets is only permitted via the IRCTC platform. According to reports,in a single day more than 82,317people booked tickets worth ₹16.15 crore. According to the guidelines issued by the <keyword id="69522" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-home-affairs">Ministry of Home Affairs</keyword>, the passengers undergo a mandatory thermal scanning before entering the station, and only passengers with no COVID symptoms are allowed to travel. Along with that, passengers have to wear face masks and follow social distancing rules throughout the journey. “If during screening, a passenger has a very high temperature/symptoms of COVID-19, etc., he shall not be allowed to travel despite having confirmed tickets. In such case full refund shall be provided to the passenger,” the order stated. It also said the passengers who are disallowed from travelling on trains because of symptoms associated with the novel coronavirus would receive a full refund for their tickets. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indias-labour-reforms-need-these-three-safety-nets-or-else-the-people-will-be-exposed-to-exploitation/articleshow/75729269.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">India’s ‘labour reforms’ need these three safety nets⁠— or else the people will be exposed to exploitation</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-india-news-updates-and-may-14-data-as-per-the-ministry-of-health/articleshow/75729912.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">India records 3,722 new coronavirus cases in last 24 hours — tally inches towards 78,000-mark</a>

Indian Railways wants to know the exact address where you are going while booking tickets online

New Delhi, Aug 29 () After being closed since March 22 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, <keyword id="6366797" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-Metro">Delhi Metro</keyword> has received the nod from authorities to resume services from September 7 in a "calibrated manner", officials said on Saturday. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that he was "glad" the mertro services will resume operations in a phased manner. "As per the latest guidelines issued by <keyword id="2835665" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Ministry-of-Home-Affairs">the Ministry of Home Affairs</keyword> under Unlock-4, the Delhi Metro will be resuming its services for public from September 7 onwards in a calibrated manner," <keyword id="902259" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Delhi-Metro-Rail-Corporation">the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation</keyword> (<keyword id="45312" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="DMRC">DMRC</keyword>) said in a statement. Further details on the metro's functioning and its usage by the general public will be shared once a detailed <keyword id="50548" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sop">SOP</keyword> is issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in the next few days, the officials said. The DMRC had last week said that the DMRC shall be prepared to resume operations whenever directed by the government. KND ANB ANB

Delhi Metro to resume services from Sep 7 in phased manner

<ul><li>Migrant <keyword id="47513" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="labourers">labourers</keyword> will now be able to go home for “free”, said BJP MP <keyword id="6370187" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="subramanian-swamy">Subramanian Swamy</keyword> in his recent Tweet. </li><li>Swamy said that the Central government will bear 85% of the cost and the state governments will pay 15%. </li></ul>The plight of migrant workers stuff in different parts of India without the means of survival or a way back home has been a thorny issue amidst the COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown. Even as state governments made way for them to return home, the fact that many penniless workers had to pay for the train tickets quickly escalated into a political issue in India. The political bickering may now to come to an end soon. Migrant labourers will now be able to go home for “free”, said BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in his recent Tweet. After a chat with <keyword id="244090" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rail-ministry">Rail Ministry</keyword> under <keyword id="230209" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Piyush-Goel">Piyush Goel</keyword>, Swamy said that the Central government will bear 85% of the cost and the state governments will pay 15%. An official confirmation from the government is still due. <div type="twitter" handle="Swamy39" handlename="Subramanian Swamy" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1069415134882230272/ATG6qpfq_normal.jpg" favoritecount="14178" retweetcount="3876" status="Talked Piyush Goel office. Govt will pay 85% and State Govt 15% . Migrant labour will go free. Ministry will clarif… https://t.co/pK5spvsTCq" createdat="1588563978000" id="1257154558557483009"></div> "What is particularly disturbing is that the Central government and the rail ministry are charging them for train tickets in this hour of crisis,” Sonia Gandhi, the Congress President and opposition party, had said earlier. Even Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who belongs to the same Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>, expressed his displeasure over the fare of ₹305 being charged from each of migrant labourers brought in a special train from Maharashtra’s Nashik to Bhopal on Saturday (May 2). So far, both the railway ministry and the state government authorities had skirted the issue when the questions were asked about the fare of ₹305 including ₹30 as superfast charges and ₹20 as surcharge being shelled out by each labourer for the six-coach train. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75526401" title="Coronavirus cases in India inches towards 43,000 mark— with Maharashtra and Delhi seeing a continuous rise" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

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