Addressing the Madhya Pradesh Global Investor Summit 2025 (GIS-2025) on Monday, February 24, Vaishnaw underlined the increasing energy requirements of the railway network and encouraged state governments to expand their renewable and nuclear energy initiatives.
“I would like to request that if a nuclear power plant can be set up in Madhya Pradesh, Indian Railways would be very happy to enter into an agreement to purchase electricity from it. Wind power is also very interesting to us,” Vaishnaw is quoted as saying by ANI.
#WATCH | Delhi | Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says, “Indian Railways will be very happy to enter into a power purchase agreement with anyone who wants to set up a nuclear power plant… We are also very keen if someone wants to set up wind power… The model that has been… pic.twitter.com/3bX3YOgLii
— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2025
Vaishnaw also urged state governments to supply electricity from various renewable sources. “I would like to request all the states through this stage that if you can supply all the energy you can supply to the railway with your renewable project, wind project, hydro project or nuclear project,” he said.
Budget and Beyond
Vaishnaw also touched upon the railway budget, emphasising its scale. “This time, the railway has been given a record budget — ₹14,745 crore,” he noted.
He contrasted the current pace of railway expansion with past decades, criticising earlier governments for slow progress. “Between the 1950s and 2010s, elections were fought by only showing railway tracks. There was no work. In 2014, the pace of work increased, and the work that used to be 29 kilometres before 2014 now happens at a rate of 223 kilometres every year,” he remarked.
Global investment interest in Madhya Pradesh
The GIS-2025 summit aims to position Madhya Pradesh as a key destination for investment by facilitating discussions between policymakers and business leaders. The event has attracted participation from leading industrialists, diplomatic representatives, and global trade organisations.
Several prominent business figures are attending the summit, including Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of Aditya Birla group; Gautam Adani, Chairman of Adani Group; Nadir Godre, Chairman and Managing Director of Godrej industries Limited; Piruz Khambatta, Group Chairman of Rasna Private Limited; Baba N Kalyani, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Forge Limited; Rahul Awasthi, Global Head of Operations at Sun Pharmaceuticals Limited; and Neeraj Akhoury, CEO of ACC Limited.
The summit is expected to provide a platform for key investments and partnerships, strengthening Madhya Pradesh’s role in India’s economic growth.
(With inputs from agencies)
