Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 30: Indian Railways has approved three infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,131 crore aimed at strengthening communication systems, increasing rail capacity and enhancing operational safety across different parts of the country, an official statement said on Tuesday.
The approved projects include the expansion of the optical fibre communication network on the South Eastern Railway, doubling of the Mansi-Saharsa railway line in Bihar, and the modernisation of signalling infrastructure in the Asansol division of Eastern Railway.
One of the key projects involves laying the remaining 48-fibre Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) network across the South Eastern Railway at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore.
The project will provide high-speed fibre connectivity over 1,696.2 route kilometres spanning four major divisions of the South Eastern Railway, strengthening the communication backbone required for safe and efficient railway operations.
According to the Railways, the upgraded fibre-optic network will improve the reliability of communication systems, enable faster transmission of operational data and facilitate better coordination among stations, control offices and field personnel.
In another major decision, Indian Railways sanctioned Rs 499 crore for doubling the 44.4-km Mansi-Saharsa railway section under the East Central Railway in Bihar.
The route currently operates as a single-line corridor on the Mansi-Saraigarh section and carries substantial passenger as well as freight traffic.
The line handles 24 pairs of passenger trains in each direction and serves as an important freight corridor for transporting commodities such as wheat, maize, cement, fertilisers, rice, sugar, salt, ballast, sand and stone.
Railway officials said doubling the line will significantly increase capacity, improve operational efficiency and accommodate the growing demand for both passenger and freight services.
The third project, valued at Rs 432 crore, focuses on upgrading signalling systems in the Asansol Division of the Eastern Railway.
The project involves replacing outdated relay-based interlocking systems with Electronic Interlocking (EI) at 27 stations and cabins, including one Intermediate Block Signalling (IBS) location, situated on High Density Network (HDN) and Highly Utilised Network (HUN) routes.
In total, 28 relay-based interlocking installations will be replaced with computer-based Electronic Interlocking systems designed to improve railway safety, operational reliability and efficiency.
The Railways said the project forms part of its broader modernisation programme, which also includes the implementation of advanced technologies such as the Kavach train protection system, Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) and Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) on busy rail corridors.
Electronic Interlocking technology replaces conventional relay-based signalling with computer-controlled systems, offering greater reliability, quicker fault detection, easier maintenance and improved operational flexibility.
According to the Railways, the three approved projects will collectively strengthen railway infrastructure, enhance passenger safety, improve freight movement and support more efficient train operations across key sections of the national network.