DELHI (Metro Rail News): Indian Railways has approved Rs 450 crore Project to upgrade signalling system across Eastern Railway. The approved project will replace relay based interlocking systems with modern Electronic Interlocking technology. It will cover 32 stations of Eastern Railway.
Scope of the project
According to the PIB press release, this project is part of Indian Railways’ larger plan to modernize its signaling infrastructure and prepare the network for future technologies. The project includes:
- Upgrading signalling systems at 32 locations
- Replacing relay-based interlocking with Electronic Interlocking
- Modernizing 25 Panel Interlocking and Route Relay Interlocking stations
- Upgrading 7 Intermediate Block Signalling locations
The work will take place on High Density Network (HDN) and Highly Utilised Network (HUN) routes, which carry heavy passenger and freight traffic.
Electronic Interlocking systems will provide better reliability and faster response times. Indian Railways officials are expecting that the new system will Improve operational efficiency, reduce signalling-related failures, strengthen safety standards, support smoother train movements and Increase network reliability. The signalling upgrade will also help Indian Railways introduce and expand advanced train control systems on busy routes. The Railway Ministry stated that the project supports technologies such as:
- Kavach, the train protection system
- Automatic Block Signalling
- Centralised Traffic Control systems
Part of a larger modernisation drive
Indian Railways has been investing a lot in track, signalling, and safety upgrades as it is expected that passenger and freight traffic will continue to rise in future. The eastern railway project is part of this wider effort to create a more modern and technology driven rail network.
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