Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Sunday, 27 September 2026, inaugurated a WAG-12 locomotive maintenance shed at Sabarmati and flagged off a high-capacity WAG-12 electric locomotive as part of a railway development package worth over ₹1,542 crore in Gujarat. The event, held in Ahmedabad, also saw the launch of the country's first LNG-powered train, marking a milestone in India's push toward alternative fuel adoption in rail transport.

The WAG-12 Maintenance Shed at Sabarmati

The centrepiece of the programme was the ₹700-crore WAG-12 locomotive maintenance shed at Sabarmati, which Shah inspected before formally dedicating it to the nation. The facility is designed to home and service up to 300 WAG-12 HHP electric locomotives, each rated at approximately 12,000 HP and purpose-built to haul heavy and long freight trains. According to railway authorities, 154 WAG-12 locomotives have already been stationed at the Sabarmati facility, with the total fleet expected to reach 300 by 2027-28. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi were also present at the programme.

India's First LNG-Powered Train

In a significant first for Indian railways, Shah flagged off the country's inaugural LNG-powered train from Sabarmati railway station. The train operates on a diesel-plus-LNG dual-fuel system, with two 1,400 HP Driving Power Cars (DPCs) converted for LNG use. More than 2,000 km of field trials have already been completed on the two converted DPCs, according to officials. This development signals a broader effort to reduce diesel dependency and cut emissions across India's freight and passenger rail network.

Kavach Safety System and Signalling Upgrades

The package also covers the rollout of the indigenous Kavach automatic train protection system across 404 km of the Ahmedabad Division network, at an estimated cost of ₹411 crore. Kavach, developed in India, is designed to prevent train collisions by automatically applying brakes when a signal is violated. Additionally, automatic block signalling has been deployed across 122.57 km of the Sabarmati-Kalol-Bhandu Motidau and Sabarmati-Sanand-Jakhwada rail sections at a cost of ₹118.83 crore. These upgrades are part of a wider national effort to improve rail safety following high-profile accidents in recent years.

Sabarmati-Sarkhej Doubling and Infrastructure Works

Shah also inaugurated and launched the doubling of the 21-km Sabarmati-Sarkhej railway section, estimated at ₹313.27 crore and targeted for completion by March 2028. The project covers Sabarmati, Gandhigram, Vastrapur, and Sarkhej stations, and includes the construction of bridges, road underbridges, and level crossings. Collectively, the suite of projects spans railway safety, signalling modernisation, freight capacity enhancement, line expansion, and alternative fuel adoption across Gujarat. The events formed part of Shah's broader visit to Ahmedabad, during which he also attended a programme marking the 92nd birth anniversary of Acharya Padmasagar Surishwarji Maharaj.

What This Means for Gujarat and Indian Railways

The ₹1,542-crore package represents one of the most comprehensive single-day rail investment events in Gujarat in recent memory. The Ahmedabad Division's upgraded freight capacity — anchored by the WAG-12 fleet — is expected to support the region's industrial logistics needs, particularly given the state's growing role as a manufacturing and export hub. The LNG train, if scaled nationally, could meaningfully reduce both fuel costs and carbon emissions across India's vast freight network. All eyes will now be on execution timelines, particularly the Sabarmati-Sarkhej doubling project and the completion of the 300-locomotive fleet target by 2027-28.