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Indian Railways Gets Rs 765 Crore Boost for Traction, Communication Upgrades

The government has approved projects worth Rs 765 crore to modernise Indian Railways' infrastructure. The funding will upgrade electric traction systems on high-density corridors in Visakhapatnam and Raichur-Guntakal sections to a more advanced 2x25 kV system. A significant portion is also allocated to strengthen the optical fibre communication backbone in Western Railway's Vadodara and Mumbai divisions. These upgrades aim to increase freight capacity, improve passenger service speeds, and support the rollout of the indigenous Kavach safety system.

Key Points: Rs 765 Crore Approved for Indian Railways Modernisation

  • Rs 765 crore for rail upgrades
  • Modernising electric traction on key corridors
  • Expanding optical fibre network for safety systems
  • Supporting Vande Bharat Express operations
2 min read

Govt clears Rs 765 crore projects to modernise rail traction, communication network

Govt sanctions Rs 765 crore to upgrade electric traction systems and optical fibre network for better freight, passenger services, and Kavach safety system.

"enabling higher freight loading, improved speed potential and enhanced reliability - Railways Ministry"

New Delhi, March 10

To strengthen Indian Railways' infrastructure and technology, the government on Tuesday said it has approved several upgradation works worth Rs 765 crore to improve operations, expand line capacity and modernise communication systems across critical sections of the network.

According to the Railways Ministry, the approved projects include upgradation of electric traction systems on two high-density freight and passenger corridors and expansion of the optical fibre communication backbone across the Vadodara and Mumbai Central divisions of Western Railway.

The government has also sanctioned Rs 318.07 crore for upgrading the electric traction system on the 106-km Duvvada-Visakhapatnam-Vizianagaram section of East Coast Railway.

"The section will be upgraded from the existing 1×25 kV system to a more advanced 2×25 kV system, enabling higher freight loading, improved speed potential and enhanced reliability on this high-density corridor," the ministry said.

The ministry added that the project is part of a nationwide programme included in the 2024-25 Railway Budget aimed at modernising electric traction systems across Indian Railways.

In addition, the ministry has approved another Rs 259.39 crore project to upgrade the electric traction system on the 126-km Raichur-Guntakal section, spanning Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, under the Guntakal division of South Central Railway.

According to the ministry, the section will also be upgraded from the existing 1×25 kV system to a 2×25 kV system.

The route lies on the Mumbai-Chennai corridor, and the upgrade is expected to facilitate smoother freight movement and faster passenger services, including operations of modern trains such as the Vande Bharat Express.

The government has also sanctioned Rs 187.88 crore for strengthening the communication backbone in the Vadodara and Mumbai Central divisions of Western Railway. The project involves the installation of a 4×48 core optical fibre cable (OFC) backbone architecture.

Under the project, optical fibre cables will be laid over 1,000 route kilometres, including 692 km in Vadodara division and 308 km in Mumbai division.

The upgraded communication infrastructure will support the implementation of LTE-based Kavach, the indigenous train collision avoidance system, across the network.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see focus on communication backbone. OFC is the nervous system for modern railways. This will be the foundation for Kavach rollout. Safety should always be the top priority. Hope the execution is swift and transparent.
R
Rohit P
Raichur-Guntakal section upgrade is much needed. That stretch is a bottleneck on the Mumbai-Chennai route. Faster freight means lower logistics costs for businesses. Hope they also look at improving last-mile connectivity from these main lines.
S
Sarah B
While the investment is positive, I hope there is equal emphasis on maintenance. We've seen new systems fail due to poor upkeep. The budget for annual maintenance of these advanced systems must be clearly allocated.
V
Vikram M
Finally! The 2x25 kV system can handle heavier loads and more frequent trains. This is a silent upgrade that common passengers might not notice, but it's the backbone for running more Vande Bharat and freight trains efficiently. Jai Hind!
K
Kavya N
As someone who travels frequently on Western Railway, better communication lines should mean fewer signal failures and smoother announcements. The focus on Kavach is reassuring. Hope the benefits reach us soon.

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