₹736 Crore Mega Boost: Indian Railways Approves Major Safety & Infra Projects
In a massive move to modernize the nation's rail network, the Ministry of Railways has greenlit a series of high-impact infrastructure and safety initiatives. With a total investment exceeding ₹736 crore, these projects are set to revolutionize operational efficiency and passenger security across several key divisions.
Kavach 4.0: Bringing Advanced Collision Prevention to Lucknow
Safety takes center stage with the deployment of the indigenous Kavach Version 4.0 Automatic Train Protection system. The North Eastern Railway's Lucknow Division will see a significant upgrade, with the system being installed across 607.7 route kilometers.
- Investment: ₹252 crore
- Core Function: The system is designed to prevent collisions and signal overshooting by automatically applying brakes when necessary to ensure safe train movement.
Digital Signaling Overhaul in Solapur Division
The Central Railway is moving away from traditional relay-based systems toward more reliable, computer-based technology. The Ministry has sanctioned ₹209 crore for the installation of Electronic Interlocking (EI) systems at seven critical stations within the Solapur Division.
Stations to be Upgraded:
- Mohol
- Mundewadi
- Bale
- Solapur
- Hotgi Junction-Hotgi A Cabin
- Shahabad
- Wadi Junction
This technological leap is expected to facilitate much faster fault detection and significantly improve overall signaling reliability.
Boosting Capacity: Electric Traction & Road Safety
To handle the growing demands of high-utilization routes, the South Coast Railway will receive an electric traction system upgrade for the Savalyapuram-Guntur section. This project, costing ₹142 crore, will cover 146 track kilometers across a 73-route-kilometer stretch, providing much-needed support for increasing rail traffic.
Additionally, the Western Railway is focusing on eliminating level crossings to improve both road and rail safety. A project to construct four-lane road overbridges (ROB) on the Udhana-Ukai Songarh section has been approved with a total cost of ₹133.23 crore. This development will be managed on a cost-sharing basis with the state government, with the railway's specific contribution amounting to ₹66.61 crore.