DELHI (Metro Rail News): Indian Railways has approved a Rs 432 crore project to update signalling systems on some of Eastern Railway’s busiest routes. The project will introduce modern Electronic Interlocking technology at 27 locations in the Asansol Division, enhancing safety and train operations.
The focus of the project is to replace older relay-based interlocking systems with Electronic Interlocking (EI). It is a modern computer-based signalling technology. Indian Railways is planning to implement this work on High Density Network (HDN) and Highly Utilised Network (HUN) routes, where train traffic is high throughout the day.
Project Overview
| Details | Information |
| Project Cost | Rs 432 cr |
| Railway Zone | Eastern Railway |
| Division | Asansol Division |
| Locations Covered | 27 stations/cabins and 1 IBS location |
| Technology | Electronic Interlocking (EI) |
Under the approved plan,Indian Railways will replace 28 existing relay-based interlocking installations. These include 27 Panel Interlocking (PI) and Route Relay Interlocking (RRI) systems and 1 Intermediate Block Signalling (IBS) location. The new Electronic Interlocking system will manage train movements using computer-based technology, replacing outdated signalling equipment.
Importance of this upgrade
The Asansol Division handles significant passenger and freight traffic. As train movements continue to rise, Railways aims to strengthen the signalling system to enhance safety and efficiency. Electronic Interlocking offers several benefits:
- Better reliability in train operations
- Faster fault detection and troubleshooting
- Easier maintenance
- Greater operational flexibility
- Improved safety standards
- Support for handling increased train traffic on busy routes
Part of a larger modernisation plan
The project is part of Indian Railways’ broader effort to modernise signalling infrastructure on high-traffic corridors. The upgraded system will also support modern railway technologies such as:
- Kavach train protection system
- Automatic Block Signalling (ABS)
- Centralised Traffic Control (CTC)
Indian Railways expects these technologies to enhance train management and streamline operations across the network.
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