New Delhi, Feb. 4 -- The Indian government has initiated a large-scale manufacturing programme for Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets, with plans to produce 260 rakes to enhance long-distance travel across the country.

Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, confirmed the target in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Railways stated that the development of these new rolling stocks follows a "holistic approach that combines technological innovation and strategic planning." The manufacturing process involves developing prototypes, followed by extensive testing and trials before transitioning to series production.

According to the Ministry, the programme is being implemented in phases by BEML, the I...