RITES bags ₹105.69 crore contract to maintain India’s First High-Speed Rail Test Track in Rajasthan

Lucknow, India (Metro Rail Today): RITES Limited has secured a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) for the comprehensive maintenance of Indian Railways’ first dedicated high-speed test track, located in Rajasthan. The contract marks an important step in ensuring the operational readiness and long-term performance of one of India’s most advanced railway testing facilities.

According to the company, the maintenance contract is valued at ₹105.69 crore, excluding GST, and will cover a period of 60 months from the date of the LoA issuance. The project involves the upkeep and maintenance of the 64-kilometre dedicated test track between Gudha and Thathana Mithri stations, situated in the Jodhpur division of North Western Railway (NWR).

India’s First Dedicated High-Speed Rail Testing Facility

The specialised testing facility, constructed at an estimated cost of ₹967 crore, is located in the Nawa region of Rajasthan, approximately 70 kilometres from Jaipur. Developed to support advanced testing of railway technologies, the track has been designed to evaluate rolling stock and rail systems at speeds of up to 220 kmph under near-real operating conditions.

The corridor is equipped with sophisticated infrastructure that enables comprehensive trials of locomotives, passenger coaches, and trainsets. The route features seven major bridges, 129 minor bridges, and four stations, making it a fully functional testing environment capable of simulating real-world railway operations.

With increasing emphasis on faster trains, improved safety standards, and advanced rail technologies, the dedicated test track is expected to play a crucial role in validating new rolling stock designs, track components, signalling systems, and other railway innovations before they are deployed across the national rail network.

Commenting on the significance of the facility, Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO, Urban Infra Group, said, “The dedicated high-speed test track represents a major milestone in India’s railway modernization journey. Such world-class testing infrastructure is essential for validating advanced train technologies, improving safety standards, and supporting the development of next-generation rolling stock for both conventional and high-speed rail networks.”

Strengthening India’s Rail Technology Ecosystem

The maintenance contract awarded to RITES ensures that the specialised infrastructure remains in optimal condition for conducting high-speed trials and technology validation. As a leading engineering consultancy and project management company under the Ministry of Railways, RITES has played a pivotal role in delivering railway infrastructure and consultancy services both in India and internationally.

The facility is expected to support extensive testing of emerging railway technologies, including higher-speed trainsets, advanced bogie designs, braking systems, and track components that can withstand higher operational speeds.

Supporting the Future of High-Speed Rail

As Indian Railways continues to modernize its network and introduce faster trains, the Rajasthan test track will serve as a vital platform for research, validation, and certification of railway systems. It will also support the country’s ambitions in high-speed rail development and indigenous train manufacturing.

With RITES now responsible for maintaining this strategic infrastructure, the facility is expected to remain a key enabler in advancing India’s rail technology capabilities while ensuring that new rolling stock and railway innovations meet the highest performance and safety standards.