‘Hydrogen train, a major tech breakthrough in India’

Indore: India will achieve a huge technological breakthrough with the project to develop a hydrogen train that is expected to undergo trials by end of this financial year, said Railway Board chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti on Wednesday.“The Northern Railway has already given contract to develop hydrogen train and work for it is underway. This is a first and a new technology. Our aim is not to fix stringent deadlines but complete the project efficiently,” Lahoti told reporters during his visit to Indore to review ongoing railway projects.“Work on hydrogen train is on a developmental stage across the globe. As we learn about it, we take it forward,” he said.On Indore railway station’s redevelopment plan, Lahoti said: “Redevelopment plan of Indore railway station was initially to be taken on PPP model. But, now, railways has decided to develop other stations, including Indore using its own budget. A DPR of Indore railway station redevelopment plan has been prepared.”“The DPR, after examination by finance department, is expected to be submitted to the railway ministry in the next 10 days for its approval in the next couple of months,” he said. The chairman said that officials concerned had been instructed for close monitoring of all major projects of Ratlam division by holding a monthly meeting. The railways has posted a chief engineer in Indore to save time in communication.On the occasion, Western Railway general manager Ashok Kumar Mishra, who was accompanied by Ratlam DRM Rajneesh Kumar, said: Trains are expected to start plying between Indore and Dhar by June next year.