Shri V. Somanna, Minister of State for Railways & Jal Shakti is seen presenting the Build India Infra Award 2026 to Western Railway, being received by Shri Vineet Abhishek, CPRO, Western Railway.
Western Railway has brought laurels by winning two prestigious awards at the Build India Infra Awards 2026, a national platform that recognizes excellence in infrastructure development with a strong focus on innovation, impact and sustainability. The awards ceremony was held on 24th February, 2026 at New Delhi. The Guests of Honour for the Award Ceremony were Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shri C. R. Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri V. Somanna, Minister of State for Railways & Jal Shakti and Shri Shripad Naik, Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy. The jury panel comprised of visionaries, industry leaders and seasoned professionals. A total of 146 nominations were received from various categories such as roads, rail, transport etc.
The honours for the railway sector was presented by Shri V. Somanna, Minister of State for Railways & Jal Shakti and was received by Shri Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer, Western Railway. The awards were conferred for two significant initiatives of Western Railway – the manufacturing of India’s first 9000 HP electric locomotive at Dahod in Gujarat and the state-of-the-art Digital Lounge & Co-Working Space at Mumbai Central station. These recognitions reaffirm Western Railway’s commitment towards nation-building through advanced technology and passenger-centric infrastructure.
The award for manufacturing excellence was received for the first-ever 9000 horsepower electric locomotive produced at the Dahod Electric Locomotive Manufacturing Plant. The high-power locomotive is designed to significantly enhance freight carrying capacity and operational efficiency of Indian Railways. The locomotive is manufactured with use of Green Energy and has Green Manufacturing tag.
Western Railway’s Digital Lounge and Co-Working Space at Mumbai Central railway station was recognized for innovation in passenger amenities and non-fare revenue generation. Developed over an area of approximately 1700 sq. ft., the facility has been designed to cater to the evolving needs of modern travellers, particularly business professionals and remote workers who require a productive work environment while on the move. The Digital Lounge offers high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity, dedicated meeting and conference rooms, and spaces suitable for virtual meetings and video conferencing. It also provides self-service light refreshments. The project is a step towards aligning station infrastructure with India’s rapidly growing digital economy and flexible working culture.
The Build India Infra Awards celebrate transformative infrastructure projects that create meaningful social and economic impact while promoting innovation and sustainable development. The twin honours received at the Build India Infra Awards 2026 reflect Western Railway’s forward-looking approach towards technological advancement, infrastructure modernization and enhancement of passenger experience, while contributing significantly to the vision of a developed and self-reliant India.
