Indian Railways approves Rs 200 cr optical fibre cable project covering nearly 1,700 kilometres across South Eastern
New Delhi, June 30
In a significant step towards strengthening the digital communication backbone, Indian Railways has approved the provision of Balance 48-Fibre Optical Fibre Cable across South Eastern Railway at a cost of Rs 200 crore.
The project will provide 48-fibre OFC connectivity over 1,696.2 Route Kilometres (RKm) across four major divisions of South Eastern Railway, reinforcing the communication network that supports safe, efficient and technology-driven railway operations.
The sanctioned work covers the installation of OFC across the following divisions: Adra Division: 545.4 RKm; Chakradharpur Division: 392.3 RKm; Kharagpur Division: 339.9 RKm; Ranchi Division: 418.6 RKm
Together, these works will strengthen communication infrastructure over 1,696.2 Route Kilometres of the South Eastern Railway.
The upgraded fibre optic backbone will provide a robust, high-capacity communication network for railway operations. It will enhance the reliability and resilience of communication systems, support faster transmission of operational data, and improve coordination between stations, control offices and field units.
The project will also provide the necessary communication infrastructure to support modern railway technologies, improve operational efficiency and strengthen the digital foundation for future capacity expansion across the South Eastern Railway network.
The approval is part of Indian Railways' continuing efforts to modernise critical railway infrastructure through advanced communication systems, ensuring safer, smarter and more efficient train operations across the national network.
Meanwhile, Indian Railways has also sanctioned a project worth Rs 432 crore for the replacement of relay-based interlocking with Electronic Interlocking (EI) at 27 stations/cabins (including 1 IBS location) on the High Density Network (HDN) and Highly Utilised Network (HUN) routes of Asansol Division of Eastern Railway.
The sanctioned work includes the replacement of 28 relay-based interlocking installations (27 PI/RRI and 1 IBS) with state-of-the-art Electronic Interlocking systems, significantly enhancing the safety, reliability and operational efficiency of train operations.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see Indian Railways upgrading its digital backbone, but I hope the implementation is timely. Too many projects get delayed due to tendering issues or last-mile problems. The 48-fibre OFC sounds modern, but what about the last-mile connectivity to remote stations in Jharkhand? 🚉 Ground-level execution will be the real test.
This is exactly what we need for a smarter railway network! Optical fibre will not just improve communication but also pave the way for future technologies like AI-based traffic management and real-time tracking. I'm particularly impressed with the Electronic Interlocking upgrade—27 stations in Asansol Division replacing old relay systems is a big safety boost. Kudos to the Railways for thinking ahead! 👏
As someone who works in telecom infrastructure, I must say 48-fibre OFC across 1,700 km is a substantial project. The decision to focus on South Eastern Railway makes sense given it handles heavy freight and coal traffic. But I wonder if the Railways is also planning to monetise this unused fibre capacity for commercial use—like leasing dark fibre to private operators. That would be a smart revenue generator! 📡
Great move, but I hope the Railways also trains its maintenance staff properly. Optical fibre is delicate and needs skilled manpower for repairs. In rural areas of Jharkhand and Odisha, even basic telecom maintenance is a challenge. 🛠️ We often see fibre cuts due to road digging or natural damage, and response times can be slow. A good network is only as good as its O&M.
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