Indian Railways is actively advancing its Mission Raftaar initiative to enable high-speed train operations at 160 kmph along the busy Delhi-Howrah rail corridor. This major infrastructure upgrade aims to drastically reduce travel times for passengers traveling between North India, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar through extensive electrical and safety enhancements across multiple railway divisions.
Key developments on the Delhi-Howrah corridor include new electrical substations, deployment of the Kavach safety system, boundary wall construction, and plans for a fourth rail line to boost speed and efficiency.
Significant progress has been recorded within the North Central Railway network, specifically in the Prayagraj and Agra divisions.
Construction is fully complete on three new substations located at Karchhana, Kurasti Kalan, and Manauri along the Kanpur-Mughalsarai stretch, and they are currently in the final stages of energization. Dr. Shivam Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer of North Central Railway, emphasized that these power enhancements are vital for establishing the robust infrastructure needed for sustained high-speed operations. At the same time, the Agra division has finalized essential electrical projects by charging the Chhata Traction Sub-station, alongside completed works in Kosikalan, Mathura, and Sholaka to guarantee an uninterrupted power supply.
To maintain safety at much higher speeds,
the Kavach automatic train protection system has been successfully deployed on the Kanpur-Prayagraj section. Amit Kumar Singh, Public Relations Officer for the Prayagraj Rail Division, confirmed that
95 percent of the track boundary wall construction is already finished. He also noted that the integration of the Kavach system will help reduce travel time between Kanpur and Prayagraj to approximately 90 minutes. Adding to these local improvements, Akanshu Govil, Station Director at Kanpur Central, stated that the Detailed Project Report for a new fourth line in his jurisdiction will be submitted to the Railway Board within two months.
These concerted efforts are part of broader national infrastructure goals under the Union Cabinet's official approval for constructing four-lane tracks on seven high-density corridors, which includes the vital Delhi-Howrah line. As a key component of the ambitious Mission 2047 vision, this initiative represents a substantial investment by Indian Railways to elevate passenger train speeds and significantly enhance freight movement efficiency across the country.
