Indian Railways approves Rs 163 crore electric traction upgradation in Nanded division
New Delhi, July 28
In a significant step towards strengthening railway infrastructure and enhancing network capacity, Indian Railways has sanctioned the upgradation of the electric traction system on the Parbhani-Mudkhed double line section in Nanded division of South Central Railway, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Railways on Tuesday.
The project, which also includes associated power supply installation works, has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 163 crore, converting the existing 1x25 kV electric traction system to a more advanced 2x25 kV system over a stretch of 164 track kilometres, supported by upgraded power supply infrastructure to meet the enhanced electrical load, the statement said.
The Parbhani-Mudkhed section forms part of the strategically important Highly Utilised Network (HUN) Route-9, connecting Ajmer-Indore-Khandwa-Akola-Purna-Mudkhed-Secunderabad-Mahbubnagar-Dhone.
The upgraded traction system will strengthen power supply for train operations, enabling the section to handle higher freight volumes and support the running of Vande Bharat Express trains. It will also contribute to Indian Railways' goal of achieving 3,000 million tonnes of freight loading by 2029-30, the statement said.
The project is part of the continuing efforts of Indian Railways to modernise electrical infrastructure and improve operational efficiency on high-density corridors across the country.
The country has emerged as the global leader with the largest electrified railway network in the world. With 99.6 per cent electrification of the country's broad gauge track network, India is second only to Switzerland which has 100 per cent railway electrification, but the network is much smaller, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha earlier this month.
India's railway network electrification is ahead of China (82 per cent), Spain 67 (per cent), Japan (64 per cent), France (60 per cent) the United Kingdom (39 per cent).
Indian Railways has undertaken one of the fastest railway electrification programmes in the world.
Electrification of the track network on Indian Railways has been taken up in mission mode with a massive 48,072 route km being electrified between 2014-2026. This represents a sharp acceleration compared to the 21,801 route km that was electrified in the 60 years before this period, the minister stated.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some focus on Marathwada region! We've been demanding better rail connectivity for years. Vande Bharat on this route will be a game-changer for daily commuters. Hope passenger amenities also get upgraded alongside this traction work. 🙏
Impressive speed of electrification - 48,000 km in just 12 years is remarkable by global standards. But 163 crores for 164 km seems steep. Curious to see the detailed cost breakdown and expected ROI before celebrating too much. Still, any infra upgrade is positive.
This is exactly what we need - upgrading existing high-utilization routes rather than just building new tracks. The 3000 MT freight target by 2030 is ambitious but achievable if we keep modernizing like this. Modi government's focus on railways is paying off. 🇮🇳
Good to see progress, but I wish they'd also address the severe overcrowding on long-distance trains. Better traction means faster trains, but what about more coaches and better booking systems? Infrastructure alone won't solve passenger woes. Critical thinking needed.
As someone from Parbhani, this is wonderful! Currently trains struggle with voltage drops during peak hours. The 2x25 kV system is more reliable and allows faster acceleration. Just hope local contractors get some work too. Khoob bhari khabar ahe! 👍
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