Van Rani to get a robust upgrade after technical overhaul

Van Rani is prepped for its inauguration at Krishnagiri railway station in Sanjay Gandhi National Park on March 14. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI

Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited (RITES) - the project management company of Sanjay Gandhi National Park's (SGNP) mini-train ‘Van Rani' - has reportedly sent one of their directors on the ground to ensure the robustness of the mini-train as its operations came to a halt just 10 days after its formal inauguration, and three months after the service was launched.

The train is being tested under the observation of experts this week, with park officials expecting that they might be able to reopen it for public as soon as Friday. A RITES official shared on Tuesday that they are overseeing all the repairs, part replacements, and upgrades that the electric mini-train needs. "We will conduct and observe trial runs for around a week, making sure that the train is robust. We can then clear it for reopening for the public," added the official.

Did you know?

The mini-train service has been operating for three months, not just since 10 days when the service was formally inaugurated on March 14, 2026. SGNP officials, in a press statement last week, said the operations had commenced earlier on January 6, 2026.

SGNP forest officer says...

‘The toy train had started in January, following all the final safety trials in December 2025. The train remained operational from January 6 to March 23
with regular ticket sales. Only the formal inauguration ceremony took place on March 14. We believe this is the first battery-powered electric mini-train across all national parks, so the technical issues faced are fresh and require a bit more time to resolve'

Moneymaker

Operational since January 6, 2026
Total ridership
Over 15,500
Total ticket revenue Over Rs 13 lakh
Daily ticket revenue Around Rs 20,000
Expected ridership 200-300 visitors per day
‘We expect the footfall to increase in the coming months with the rainy season approaching' A forest officer.

Official Speak

Anita Patil IFS (Indian Forest Service), field director, SGNP
I had a meeting on Monday with a director and technical team from RITES regarding the ongoing issues with Van Rani. They are working towards solving the issue, and I will get an update from them on the situation on Friday. We are trying to get at least one train on track by this weekend."

Issues with Van Rani

Slightly sunken tracks at a few points and limit-exceeding loads led to breakage of the train's shaft. The coupling system was also impacted.

Technical updates

>> Earlier coupling system upgraded to redesigned newer, robust system aligned with soft-end motor
>> Shaft, the intermediate part between the motor and the coupling, replaced
>> Engine motor upgraded to one with higher power and load-bearing capacity
>> Track work ongoing under regular maintenance

Mar 24
Day toy train service broke down