Vande Bharat-The Hindu-10-09-2022

GS-3
Science technology
Context :

Prelims and Mains :

The Vande Bharat train is an indigenously designed and manufactured semi-high speed, self-propelled train that is endorsed as the next major leap for the Indian Railways. The Vande Bharat Express is a semi-high-speed train designed, developed, and built by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF).
Feature of Vande Bharat Express :
Bharat trains have seating only in two classes — chair car and executive chair car.
The Vande Bharat coaches include onboard WiFi entertainment, a GPS-based passenger information system, CCTVs, automatic doors, rotating chairs and bio-vacuum toilets.
They are self-propelled trains that do not require an engine. This feature is called a distributed traction power system
The train has a passenger-carrying capacity of more than 1,100 people.
Currently, two Vande Bharat Expresses are operational; one between New Delhi and Varanasi and the other from New Delhi to Katra.
Presenting the Union Budget for 2022-23, Finance Minister said 400 new energy-efficient Vande Bharat trains will be introduced in three years.

Significance of Vande Bharat Trains :
Cuts Travel Time Drastically
Energy Efficient
Reduce Turnaround Time
Faster Acceleration and Deceleration among others.

How does it play role in achieving India's goal of 5 trillion economies?
Improve India’s GDP: According to a study conducted by the London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of Hamburg in 2008, cities that are connected to HSR systems tend to witness a rise in their gross domestic product (GDP) by at least 2.7 percentage points compared to their neighbours that do not have an HSR station. The reason for the differential was improved market access.
Role of the trains in India’s development: Being the third-largest network in the world under single management and with over 68,102 route km IR strives to provide a safe, efficient, competitive, and world-class transport system.
Spin-off effect: It is about Rs 40,000 crore business opportunity that would also create 15,000 jobs and several spin-off benefits and act as a stimulus for the development of satellite towns.
Boost to ‘Make in India’– it involves only about 15 per cent import content which will further go down if production volumes increase.
Environmental Benefits: More rail traffic translates to less automobile traffic, and by extension, less highway and city street traffic congestion, and reduced air pollution. According to the International Association of Railways (UIC), high-speed rail is eight times more energy-efficient than aeroplanes and four times more efficient than automobile use.
Conclusion
India aspires to become the third-largest economy in the next 25 years. It has already proven its prowess in the field of space and now is the time for furthering its international stature by joining the exclusive club of nations having a high-speed rail network. This high-speed rail project will therefore help the Indian Railways to become a global leader in scale, technology, and skill.