New Delhi: Indian Railways has approved four separate projects with a combined investment of around ₹800 crore, covering Kavach 4.0 deployment, electronic signalling, a freight bypass and yard remodelling across different railway zones.
The approvals include a ₹170 crore Kavach project in Moradabad Division, a ₹233 crore signalling upgrade in Samastipur Division, an ₹272 crore freight bypass in South Eastern Railway and an around ₹125 crore yard remodelling project at Bhavnagar Para in Gujarat.
In Moradabad Division of Northern Railway, the Railways has approved installation of Kavach Version 4.0 across the remaining 712 route kilometres at a cost of ₹170 crore.
Kavach is Indian Railways’ indigenous Automatic Train Protection system designed to prevent Signal Passing at Danger, regulate train speeds and automatically apply brakes when required to improve operational safety.
Separately, the Railways has sanctioned ₹233 crore for replacing existing Panel Interlocking systems with Electronic Interlocking at 21 stations in Samastipur Division of East Central Railway.
The Electronic Interlocking systems will modernise signalling infrastructure at the stations and also provide the signalling framework required for implementation of Kavach.
Alongside the safety and signalling projects, Indian Railways has approved an ₹272 crore, 11-km bypass between the Adra end and Joychandipahar under South Eastern Railway.
The bi-directional bypass will connect with the upcoming third line and is expected to facilitate movement of 6.065 freight rakes per day.
According to the Railway Ministry, the project is expected to support freight demand linked to SAIL’s requirement of 23.40 MTPA of iron ore and BCCL’s projected movement of 45 rakes per day.
The bypass is also expected to handle an additional 8.88 MTPA of traffic after completion. The ministry said line capacity utilisation on the Joychandipahar-Adra section is currently 47.50 per cent and is projected to increase to 56.45 per cent by 2028-29.
The project forms part of Indian Railways’ identified Energy, Mineral and Cement Corridor and is aimed at reducing operational bottlenecks and delays affecting freight movement in the region.
In Gujarat, the Railways has also approved the Bhavnagar Para Yard Remodeling project at a cost of around ₹125 crore.
The project is intended to reduce congestion at Bhavnagar Terminus by shifting stabling and other operational activities to Bhavnagar Para, creating additional capacity for train movements and reducing rake detention.
The scope includes four loop lines, an engine reversal line, ART and ARME siding, relocation of the station and Electronic Interlocking building, a new high-level island platform and widening of Platform No. 2.
It also includes extension of the existing Foot Over Bridge, construction of another FOB, one new Road Under Bridge, extension of an existing RUB and associated electrical and signalling works.
Taken together, the four separately sanctioned projects show Indian Railways pursuing safety modernisation and network capacity expansion in parallel, with Kavach and signalling upgrades addressing train protection while the Adra bypass and Bhavnagar yard works target freight and operational bottlenecks.
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