Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Ahmedabad rail division reports record freight loading on Independence Day
India celebrates Independence Day every year, and this year the trains had some big news.
A man named Ved Prakash, who looks after trains in a part of India called Gujarat, shared how well the trains did.
The train division in the city of Ahmedabad moved more heavy loads than ever before in one year.
The government is spending a lot more money on railways in Gujarat than it did many years ago.
Many new railway tracks have been built, and all the train lines in Gujarat now run on electricity.
New fast trains called Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat are running in the state.
A big plan to build a new fast train line got government approval.
Railways also work on safety, like helping children and returning lost things to passengers.
On Independence Day, railway workers got awards and children joined in songs, dances and drawing contests.
The Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway achieved its highest-ever freight loading of 51.35 million tonnes, becoming the eighth-highest loading division in Indian Railways for the first time.
Divisional Railway Manager Ved Prakash presented the division's performance at the 80th Independence Day celebrations held on Saturday at the DRM office premises in Ahmedabad.
Gujarat's average annual railway budget rose from about Rs 589 crore in 2009-14 to Rs 17,366 crore in 2026-27, an increase of nearly 29 times.
Gujarat achieved 100 per cent railway electrification, with more than 2,900 km of new railway lines laid since 2014 and 1,177 road overbridges and road underbridges constructed.
The Rs 20,667-crore Ahmedabad-Sarkhej-Dholera semi-high-speed double-line project received Cabinet approval, and a 1,360-tonne portal beam for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train was launched near Maninagar.
- Who
- Divisional Railway Manager Ved Prakash of the Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway, along with railway officers, employees and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at the Independence Day celebrations.
- What
- The division reported record freight loading of 51.35 million tonnes, its first ranking as the eighth-highest loading division in Indian Railways, and major infrastructure, safety and passenger-service achievements.
- When
- Saturday, the 80th Independence Day; children's essay and painting competitions were held on August 9.
- Where
- Main ceremony at the Divisional Railway Manager's office premises in Ahmedabad, Gujarat; observances also at Sabarmati, Palanpur, Mehsana and Gandhidham stations.
- Why
- To celebrate Independence Day and highlight the division's and Gujarat's railway development performance over the past year.
- Record freight loading
- 51.35 million tonnes (highest-ever; eighth-highest division in Indian Railways)
- Gujarat railway budget
- Rs 17,366 crore in 2026-27 vs about Rs 589 crore in 2009-14 (nearly 29 times)
- Railway works under way in Gujarat
- Rs 1,28,748 crore
- New lines and electrification
- 2,900+ km of new lines since 2014; 4,005+ km electrified; 100% electrification
- Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
- 87 stations modernised with investment of about Rs 7,000 crore
- Kavach safety system
- 1,842 route kilometres sanctioned
- Ahmedabad-Sarkhej-Dholera project
- Rs 20,667 crore; Cabinet-approved semi-high-speed double-line project
- Train services in Gujarat
- Six pairs of Vande Bharat; one pair of Amrit Bharat; one pair of Namo Bharat Express