Amit Shah launches major railway projects in Gujarat: LNG train, WAG-12 loco, Kavach and more

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a series of significant railway projects in Gujarat on September 27, 2026, at Sabarmati. The total cost of these initiatives surpasses Rs 1,542 crore. The projects encompass India's inaugural LNG-powered train, a WAG-12 locomotive maintenance facility, the Kavach safety mechanism, automatic signaling, and the expansion of the Sabarmati-Sarkhej railway line.

The country's first LNG train made its debut on the Sabarmati-Mahesana route. This train runs on a 8-coach, non-AC chair car configuration. It operates on a dual-fuel system, with approximately 40% of its power sourced from LNG. The use of this alternative fuel is projected to cut fuel expenses by around Rs 11.9 lakh annually and diminish CO₂, NOx, and particulate matter emissions.

A WAG-12 locomotive maintenance shed, valued at Rs 700 crore, was established to service 300 WAG-12 HHP electric locomotives. These locomotives possess a power output of around 12,000 HP and are specifically designed for transporting heavy and lengthy freight trains. The facility aims to enhance the upkeep and availability of these locomotives, thereby bolstering heavy freight train operations.

Safety enhancements are a key priority for the projects. Approximately Rs 411 crore is allocated to deploying the Kavach safety system, an advanced Automatic Train Protection (ATP) mechanism, on 404 km of railway sections within the Ahmedabad Division. Kavach covers 157 km on the Ahmedabad-Palanpur route and 247 km on the Ahmedabad-Samakhiali stretch. This system is designed to decrease collision risks, mitigate hazards associated with over-speeding, and lessen the impact of human error on train safety.

Automatic signaling, costing around Rs 118.83 crore, is being implemented on 122.57 km of railway sections in the Ahmedabad Division. This includes the Sabarmati-Kalol-Bhandu Motidaur and Sabarmati-Sanand-Jakhwada corridors. Automatic signaling maintains safe distances between trains, boosts operational efficiency, and expands line capacity.

The 21-km Sabarmati-Sarkhej railway line doubling project is being undertaken at an estimated expense of Rs 313.27 crore. The project is slated for completion by March 2028. It involves the construction of 16 minor bridges, 13 Road Under Bridges (RUBs), one major bridge, and six level crossings between Sabarmati, Gandhigram, Vastrapur, and Sarkhej stations.

This doubling initiative intends to augment line capacity, facilitate smoother train movement, and improve connectivity to the Sarkhej–Dholera region, thereby stimulating industrial and commercial growth.