In a major win for the “Make in India” initiative, the country has become the world’s largest manufacturer of high-tech track slabs, a critical component of high-speed rail. This milestone, driven by the nation’s commitment to building its first bullet train project, marks a significant leap in India’s industrial and technological capabilities.

The achievement is centered around state-of-the-art factories in Gujarat, established to produce specialized track slabs for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor. Unlike traditional tracks with ballast (crushed rock), these pre-cast, reinforced concrete slabs are part of a cutting-edge ballastless track system that provides greater stability, requires less maintenance, and is essential for achieving the bullet train’s speed of 320 kmph.

Union Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has celebrated the achievement, highlighting the project’s contribution to both technological advancement and job creation. “This facility… is the largest in India and one of the largest track slab factories globally,” he stated during a recent inspection.

The technology behind the track slabs is based on Japan’s renowned Shinkansen system, but the manufacturing is now being done on Indian soil. A factory near Surat has a capacity to produce up to 120 slabs per day, while another facility in Anand produces 60 slabs daily. The rapid scaling of production has enabled India to outpace competitors and secure its position as a global leader in this niche field.

This homegrown capability means India will no longer need to import these critical components for its burgeoning high-speed rail network. The expertise gained is expected to be invaluable for other upcoming high-speed and semi-high-speed rail projects, including the ambitious Vande Bharat network. This strategic shift not only ensures greater control over project timelines and costs but also establishes India as a potential exporter of advanced railway infrastructure technology.