India Amrit Bharat railway upgrades and hydrogen train

The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme continued its phased rollout in mid‑July 2026. On 16–17 July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated a batch of 75 redeveloped stations across 20 states, adding sites such as Sarona, Champa and Balod in Chhattisgarh and Majbat in Assam, alongside earlier‑announced locations in Odisha, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Punjab and others. The upgraded stations feature larger foot‑over‑bridges with lifts, expanded parking, LED lighting, digital passenger‑information displays, wheelchair‑friendly facilities, improved sanitation and heritage‑focused architectural motifs. The tranche represents about ₹1,570 crore of the total ₹5,400 crore investment for the 75‑station batch, bringing modern amenities to millions of passengers and acting as catalysts for regional economic growth, tourism and connectivity.

On the same day Modi flagged off India’s first hydrogen‑powered passenger train, branded “NaMo Green Rail”, on the 89‑km Jind–Sonipat route in Haryana. The ten‑coach train carries roughly 2,600 passengers and is equipped with a 3,200‑horsepower fuel‑cell system, billed as the world’s most powerful hydrogen train. The project, budgeted at roughly ₹12 million, complements the station upgrades by targeting reduced carbon emissions and showcasing advanced sustainable rail technology.

In addition to the rail events, Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth several thousand crore rupees in Punjab, Chandigarh and other states, linking the railway upgrades to broader infrastructure investment. Together, these initiatives underline the government’s commitment to a modern, passenger‑centric and environmentally friendly rail network.