The government has sanctioned upgradation works worth Rs 765 crore for Indian Railways to enhance infrastructure and technology. These projects aim to improve operations, expand line capacity, and modernize communication systems in critical sections of the network. Among the approved projects are the upgradation of electric traction systems on high-density freight and passenger corridors, and the expansion of the optical fibre communication backbone in Western Railway’s Vadodara and Mumbai Central divisions.
The Railways Ministry disclosed that Rs 318.07 crore has been allocated for upgrading the electric traction system on the 106-km Duvvada–Visakhapatnam–Vizianagaram section of East Coast Railway. This upgrade involves transitioning from the existing 1×25 kV system to a more advanced 2×25 kV system. The initiative aims to increase freight loading capacity, enhance speed potential, and improve reliability on this high-density corridor.
Additionally, the ministry has approved a Rs 259.39 crore project to upgrade the electric traction system on the 126-km Raichur–Guntakal section under the Guntakal division of South Central Railway. This section, part of the Mumbai–Chennai corridor, will also shift from a 1×25 kV system to a 2×25 kV system. The upgrade is expected to facilitate smoother freight movement and faster passenger services, including operations of modern trains like the Vande Bharat Express.
Furthermore, the government has allocated Rs 187.88 crore to strengthen the communication backbone in Western Railway’s Vadodara and Mumbai Central divisions. This project involves installing a 4×48 core optical fibre cable (OFC) backbone architecture. Over 1,000 route kilometers will be covered, 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.
