India’s first dedicated railway test track is under construction near Sambhar Lake in the Jodhpur Division, about 80 kilometers from Jaipur in Rajasthan.
- It aimed at facilitating advanced testing of rolling stock. The track runs between Gudha and Thathana Mithdi in the Deedwana district.
- Expected to be completed by December 2025, this 60-kilometer test track will enable high-speed trials, including for bullet trains, and introduce new capabilities in railway infrastructure.
- The project, sanctioned in two phases—Phase 1 in 2018 and Phase 2 in 2021—comes with a total cost of Rs 820 crore.
- Once operational, the track will accommodate speeds of up to 230 kmph, marking a milestone for high-speed rail testing in India.
- The facility will also test comprehensive safety and durability parameters such as accident resistance, rolling stock stability, and track material quality.
- RDSO (Research Designs and Standards Organisation) is overseeing the project, which features seven large bridges, 129 small bridges, and four stations—Gudha, Jabdinagar, Nawan, and Mithadi.
