The Indian Railways’ Vande Bharat Sleeper , initially expected last December and later promised for September and October this year, has been hit by repeated delays. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently confirmed that “minor retrofitting” during testing has pushed the launch to next month.

What issues emerged during testing?

After the prototype rake was tested, engineers flagged problems with the seats, bogies, interior fittings, curtain handles, and berth mechanisms. Multiple rakes were reportedly sent back for correction.

One of the most serious findings was that the emergency alarm button and its indicator board were hidden behind the upper berth connector console, making them inaccessible in an emergency. Officials stated that this design flaw must be corrected before full-s

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