Srinagar, Sep 27 (KNS): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday flagged off India's first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati Railway Station in Gujarat, describing it as part of the Centre's efforts to modernise the country's railway network.

The train, based on an LNG-diesel dual-fuel system, was flagged off during a ceremony at Sabarmati. The eight-coach non-AC chair car train made its inaugural journey from Sabarmati to Mehsana Junction.

According to the Railways, the permanent route for the train will be decided subsequently.

Addressing the gathering, Shah said railway development had not progressed at the required pace before 2014, while the Narendra Modi government had undertaken several major projects, including dedicated freight corridors, rapid rail systems and modern railway stations.

He said the government was also working on converting around 11,000 km of railway corridors into four-track networks to increase capacity for both passenger and freight traffic.

The new train uses LNG-diesel dual-fuel technology, allowing its engines to operate on both liquefied natural gas and diesel.

The Railways has converted two 1,400-horsepower driving power cars for the system, with more than 2,000 km of field trials completed, according to officials.

The technology has the potential to reduce diesel consumption by around 40 per cent, while also lowering fuel costs and emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

Current estimates suggest that the system could result in annual savings of around Rs 11.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel9 lakh for a single driving power car and approximately Rs 23.9 lakh for a rake comprising eight coaches.

The initiative is part of efforts to explore cleaner and more fuel-efficient technologies for railway operations.

Shah also used the occasion to target the Congress, alleging that corruption and scams had marked its period in power.

He challenged the Congress to debate the issue on the basis of figures rather than allegations and claimed that scams and corruption cases involving around Rs 12 lakh crore had surfaced during Congress-led governments.

Shah further claimed that despite the Modi government's 12-year tenure, not even a minor corruption charge against the prime minister had been established.

The claims were made by Shah during his address and form part of the political contest between the BJP and Congress over their respective records in government.

The Home Minister also highlighted increased railway allocations for Gujarat.

According to Shah, the state received an annual railway allocation of around Rs 589 crore between 2009 and 2014, while the allocation for 2026-27 has risen to Rs 17,336 crore.

He said the government's focus was on expanding railway infrastructure, improving passenger amenities, increasing freight capacity, strengthening safety measures and introducing modern technologies.

The flag-off of the LNG train comes as Indian Railways explores alternative fuel technologies alongside its broader push towards electrification and modernisation of its network.(KNS)