New Delhi: At an estimated cost of Rs 8,000 crore, Indian Railways is planning to induct about 40,000 coaches with improved interiors and upgraded facilities to provide world-class comfort to its passengers. 

With the retrofitting cost of about Rs 30 Lakh per coach; the coaches will be retrofitted with refurbished interiors, improved seating arrangement and newly designed bio-toilets among other facilities.

A senior Railway Ministry official involved with the project said that, “The aim is to make available 40,000 new look coaches in the railway fleet by 2023.”

In the next five years; the work plan envisages retrofitting of 1000 coaches in the current fiscal year with an increase of 3000 in the next fiscal and 5,500 coaches in subsequent years.

Indian Railways also expect to manufacture 15,000 new coaches during 2018-19 and 2022-23 periods with modern features. It is also focusing on the safety front by equipping all conventional coaches with centre buffler couplers (CBC) a strong coupler system which enhances safety by providing anti-climbing features. 

Besides, the state-run transporter will strengthen safety features in all existing conventional coaches equipping them with strong couplers to prevent capsizing during accidents and it would cost about Rs 28 lakh to equip CBC in a coach to the Indian Railways.