Railway infrastructure in Chhattisgarh has received a substantial upgrade with the completion and operationalisation of the country's fourth advanced maintenance depot in Bilaspur, built specifically for Vande Bharat Express trainsets. Equipped with automated machinery, specialized servicing bays, and an automatic coach washing facility, the depot has officially commenced maintenance operations for 16-coach rakes. South East Central Railway (SECR) General Manager Tarun Prakash visited the facility to examine the on-ground setup and assess operational readiness. Alongside this technological milestone, a major travel development is underway with a formal proposal prepared to stretch the existing Indore-Nagpur Vande Bharat route straight to Bilaspur.
Inspection of Automated Machinery and Live Washing Trials
During his comprehensive review of the facility, General Manager Tarun Prakash examined the automated equipment and advanced technical systems installed across the depot floors. Technical supervisors and senior officials presented a breakdown of the daily servicing routines, diagnostic workflows, and safety validation protocols applied to the semi-high-speed trainsets. A live operational trial was conducted at the newly installed automatic coach washing plant, cleaning a complete Vande Bharat rake to evaluate both efficiency and water management. Impressed by the operational flow, the General Manager directed depot teams to maximize the utilization of these modern tools while maintaining uncompromised vigilance. He emphasized that strict adherence to safety standards remains paramount to ensure smooth, secure train movements across the railway network.
Proposal to Extend Indore-Nagpur Route to Bilaspur
In a move designed to eliminate travel bottlenecks between Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh, railway authorities drafted a plan two months ago to extend the Indore-Nagpur Vande Bharat Express up to Bilaspur. The comprehensive proposal has been submitted to the Railway Board for formal review and sanction. At present, travelers moving from Indore must alight at Nagpur and transfer to connecting express trains to reach Bilaspur. Once approved, the revised route will deliver a direct high-speed corridor connecting these key commercial destinations without interchange delays. The service currently runs six days a week, remaining non-operational on Saturdays while route expansion protocols await definitive clearance from the Railway Board.
National Unity Day Pledge Administered to Railway Staff
Aligning with his inspection duties, General Manager Tarun Prakash also led South East Central Railway headquarters and Bilaspur division personnel in observing National Unity Day. He administered the pledge of national unity and integrity to gathered officers and staff, urging everyone to work with full dedication toward safeguarding the country's security and sovereignty. The gathering witnessed the participation of senior railway leadership, including Additional General Manager Vijay Kumar Sahu and Divisional Railway Manager Rakesh Ranjan, alongside several divisional department heads.
