First metro train built in India in Gujarat

The first indigenously produced metro train at Bombardier’s newly set up factory here is a template fit for pan-India replication, said Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over the weekend.

The brand new train, built at the factory set up in a record time of 18 months, has many firsts to its credit. Known as Movia, it is the first metro train to be built in India. The whole project from conception to rollout has been completed within 24 months.

The factory, which has a capacity to churn out a coach a month, will be supplying 81 trains consisting of 424 coaches for Phase II of the Delhi Metro railway before the start of the Commonwealth Games in the Capital next year.

Speaking at the train unveiling ceremony, Mr. Modi described the eco-friendly train as a gift from Gujarat to the nation on World Environment Day.

Unlike vehicular road traffic that accounts for 84 per cent of the total carbon emission released into the atmosphere and air traffic that releases another 15 per cent, metro trains have a low emission of just one per cent.

Citing the case of Japan where super-fast train facilities have been provided by the government bringing far ends of the country closer, Mr. Modi made out a case for introduction of similar trains all over India.

“We have been urging the Union Government to introduce high-speed trains between Ahmedabad and Mumbai. If that was done, then the coming together of the two financial hubs will strengthen the country’s growth,” he said.

He also expressed hope that in the forthcoming Railway budget the Centre would make provisions for high-speed bullet trains.

“Gujarat is ready to assist in providing resources and inputs required for the introduction of such infrastructure,” he said.