Shakur Basti Becomes Model Maintenance Depot For Vande Bharat, Other Zones Told To Replicate

Delhi’s Shakur Basti maintenance depot for Vande Bharat trains has emerged as a model facility for the entire Indian Railways network. The Railway Board has now directed all zones operating Vande Bharat services

to study the Shakur Basti setup. A recent communication to zonal railways notes that as the national fleet expands, depots must align with the technical capability, safety standards, and workflow efficiency demonstrated at this facility. Shakur Basti is one of the earliest depots created for Vande Bharat maintenance. When the first Vande Bharat train was introduced in 2019, this depot handled the upkeep of that lone train. Today, it manages the daily maintenance of three Vande Bharat trainsets with consistently high reliability. The depot caters not only to Vande Bharat trains but also to DEMU sets, supported by advanced machinery, automated tools, and modernised maintenance bays. It has also been tasked with maintaining India’s first hydrogen-powered trains and Vande Bharat sleeper rake.

The static infrastructure consists of three core components — the Inspection Bay Line, the Heavy Repair Bay, and a range of auxiliary support systems. Two 420m × 20m lines are housed within a four-level inspection-and-servicing shed. Each line is equipped with a 1.5-metre-deep central pit for undergear checks, roof-level catwalks with retractable OHE, interior access platforms, compressed air lines, and overhead cranes for handling heavy equipment. The retractable OHE features an interlocked mechanism that can rotate up to 85 degrees for safe access. Solar illumination systems further enhance visibility and operational safety.
The facility falls under the Northern Railway zone. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the depot was also used to house coaches converted for patient care.
Currently, over 150 Vande Bharat Express trains operate on various routes across the country. Several zones have maintenance facilities. However, officers from all over the country are now visiting the Shakoorbasti maintenance depots and taking notes to implement the same at their depots.