Vande Bharat Sleeper rollout faces setbacks as deliveries fall short

Chennai: The highly anticipated rollout of the Vande Bharat Sleeper trains is facing major hurdles as manufacturing delays continue to plague the project. Despite the contract being awarded three years ago, authorities remain tight-lipped about the final delivery dates for the remaining rakes.

Three years ago, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai awarded a contract to the public sector undertaking Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) in Bengaluru. The agreement was for the production of ten Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, each consisting of 16 coaches.

While the original agreement aimed for completion within one year, progress has been sluggish. Only two trains were handed over by BEML six months ago. BEML initially promised the remaining eight trains by March 2026. This was later scaled back to a promise of just two trains by March.

As of now, even those two promised trains have not arrived. ICF officials have expressed concern over the lack of communication, stating they have received no official updates from BEML regarding the remaining six trains.

The delay is not limited to external contracts. Two years ago, ICF announced it would independently manufacture 50 Vande Bharat Sleeper trains. These were designed to be premium long-distance carriers featuring:

• 24-coach configurations (compared to the standard 16)
• Integrated Pantry Cars for onboard catering
• Enhanced suspension and interiors for overnight travel

However, this internal project has also yet to be materialised, leaving long-distance passengers waiting indefinitely for a more comfortable alternative to current express trains.