Railways approves Rs 448 crore upgrade for key South India routes
New Delhi, June 8
In a major boost towards enhancing rail capacity and operational efficiency, the Ministry of Railways has sanctioned the upgradation of the electric traction system on the Mahbubnagar-Secunderabad-Medchal section of South Central Railway and Bengaluru-Tumkur section of South Western Railway.
Bengaluru-Tumkur section is one of the busiest railway corridors. As per the release, the upgradation project involves the conversion of the existing 1x25 kV electric traction system to a 2x25 kV electric traction system over a stretch of 120 Track Kilometres (TKM). The total cost of the project is Rs 162.57 crore, as per the release.
The Bengaluru-Tumakuru section forms part of the strategically important Highly Utilised Network (HUN) Route-10, which connects major economic and industrial centres along the Pune-Hubballi-Chikjajur-Birur-Tumkur-Bengaluru-Salem-Kanniyakumari corridor.
"The project will contribute to decongesting a key rail route serving the Bengaluru metropolitan region and adjoining districts, while also supporting smoother movement of passenger and freight traffic across Karnataka and southern India," the Ministry of Railways press release said.
On the other hand, the Ministry has approved Rs 285.01 crore for the Mahbubnagar-Secunderabad-Medchal section of South Central Railway. As per the release, the Indian Railways will upgrade the existing 1x25 kV electric traction system to a modern 2x25 kV electric traction system. "The introduction of the 2x25 kV system will provide a more stable and efficient power supply for train operations, making rail services smoother, safer and more reliable," the release said.
Furthermore, the Mahbubnagar-Secunderabad-Medchal section is one of the major High-Density Network (HDN) routes, falling on the Dharmavaram-Dhone-Mahbubnagar-Secunderabad-Medchal-Mudkhed-Indore-Ajmer rail corridor, which carries significant passenger and freight traffic.
According to the Ministry of Railways, the project will enhance train operations on the route upon completion by improving efficiency and increasing capacity. It will facilitate smoother freight movement, boosting the speed and volume of goods transportation, while also supporting trade, industry, and economic growth in the region.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm skeptical about the timelines, honestly. Railway projects in India always get delayed. But the concept is great—2x25 kV system means fewer power failures and faster trains. Let's see if they actually finish by the deadline. Fingers crossed for smoother rides on the Pune-Bengaluru corridor! 🤞
As someone who travels on the Secunderabad-Medchal route frequently, I can tell you this is long overdue. The current system can't handle the load, especially with freight trains. This upgrade could be a game-changer for local industries too—faster goods movement means lower costs. But please, Railways, don't compromise on safety during implementation. Safety first, always.
Great initiative, but I wish they'd also focus on cleanliness and punctuality. Even with better traction, if trains are dirty or late, it doesn't help much. Still, kudos to the Ministry for investing in infrastructure. The Bengaluru-Tumkur section is a lifeline for so many daily commuters—let's hope this upgrade brings real improvement. 🚆
While I appreciate the investment, I have to point out that this is just one part of a larger problem. Rural connectivity in South India still needs massive upgrades. Why not use some of this money for new lines in underserved areas? But I guess it's a start. Let's hope the execution is faster than previous projects! 😊
This is brilliant! The 2x25 kV system
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