Indian Railways Approves ₹765 Crore Projects to Upgrade Rail Infrastructure and Communication Systems

New Delhi | 10 March 2026 Indian Railways has approved a series of infrastructure and technology upgradation projects worth more than ₹765 crore to improve operational efficiency, increase line capacity and strengthen communication systems across key railway corridors. The decision was announced by the Ministry of Railways as part of ongoing efforts to modernise the country’s railway network and support growing freight and passenger traffic. One of the major projects includes the upgrade of the electric traction system on the 106-kilometre Duvvada–Visakhapatnam–Vizianagaram section under East Coast Railway. For this project, the railways have sanctioned ₹318.07 crore. The existing 1×25 kV traction system will be replaced with a more advanced 2×25 kV system, which will allow trains to carry heavier freight loads, improve speeds and ensure more reliable operations. This route is part of the important Howrah–Chennai corridor and plays a crucial role in transporting minerals and industrial goods from Odisha and Chhattisgarh to Visakhapatnam Port. Another project worth ₹259.39 crore has been approved for upgrading the electric traction system on the 126-kilometre Raichur–Guntakal section under the South Central Railway. This section, which passes through parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, will also be upgraded from the 1×25 kV system to the 2×25 kV system. The improvement is expected to support heavier train loads, faster speeds and smoother operations on the busy Mumbai–Chennai route, including services such as Vande Bharat Express. In addition, ₹187.88 crore has been approved to strengthen the communication infrastructure in the Western Railway network. The project involves laying around 1,000 route kilometres of 4×48 core optical fibre cable across the Vadodara and Mumbai Central divisions. Officials said the upgraded network will support advanced communication systems, including the indigenous train safety technology Kavach, which is designed to prevent train collisions and enhance railway safety. Indian Railways Approves ₹765 Crore Projects to Upgrade Rail Infrastructure and Communication Systems Indian Railways has approved infrastructure and technology upgrade projects worth more than ₹765 crore to improve operations and strengthen key rail corridors across the country. According to the Ministry of Railways, the projects focus on upgrading electric traction systems and expanding the communication network to support smoother train operations. One of the major upgrades will take place on the 106-km Duvvada–Visakhapatnam–Vizianagaram section under East Coast Railway. The ₹318.07 crore project will replace the existing traction system with a more advanced one to support higher freight loads and better speeds. This route is important for transporting minerals and goods to Visakhapatnam Port. Another ₹259.39 crore project will upgrade the 126-km Raichur–Guntakal section under South Central Railway. The improvement is expected to increase reliability, allow heavier trains and support faster passenger services, including modern trains like the Vande Bharat Express. Additionally, ₹187.88 crore has been approved to strengthen the communication network in the Western Railway divisions of Vadodara and Mumbai Central. The project includes laying optical fibre cables to support advanced systems such as the indigenous train safety technology Kavach, aimed at improving railway safety and efficiency.