Indian Railways Puts ₹765 Crore into Its Rail Network

New Delhi: Indian Railways has cleared over ₹765 crore for three new projects. The money will go to two traction upgrades and one big communications job.

All three are part of the 2024–25 Railway Budget.

The work spans three railway zones. It covers key stretches on the Howrah–Chennai and Mumbai–Chennai lines. It also covers 1,000 km of new fibre cable on Western Railway.

VISAKHAPATNAM CORRIDOR

₹318 crore has been set aside for the Duvvada–Visakhapatnam–Vizianagaram stretch. This is a 106-km section on East Coast Railway.

Right now the line runs on a 1×25 kV power system. The upgrade will move it to 2×25 kV. This is a stronger setup. It lets heavier trains run without slowing down.

The section is a key route for minerals from Odisha and Chhattisgarh. These goods travel to Visakhapatnam Port. A stronger power supply means fewer delays and smoother trips.

RAICHUR–GUNTAKAL CORRIDOR

₹259 crore goes to the Raichur–Guntakal section. This 126-km route runs through Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It sits on the busy Mumbai–Chennai main line.

Again, the upgrade is from 1×25 kV to 2×25 kV. The line carries a heavy mix of freight and passenger trains. It also runs Vande Bharat services, which need a strong power supply to run well.

Indian Railways wants to hit 3,000 million tonnes of freight per year. This project is one step toward that target.

FIBRE CABLE – WESTERN RAILWAY

₹188 crore will fund a new fibre cable network on Western Railway. The work covers 1,000 km across two divisions — 692 km in Vadodara and 308 km in Mumbai.

The cables will carry a 4×48 core setup. This gives the network high bandwidth and backup paths. If one link fails, the rest still works.

The main goal is to support Kavach. This is India’s own train collision system. It needs fast, reliable digital links to work. Without them, it cannot do its job.

These three projects touch some of India’s busiest train lines. They are part of a clear plan- more power, more data, safer trains.

WHAT IT ALL MEANS

The two traction upgrades will let trains carry more and move faster. Freight operators and passengers on two of India’s top corridors will feel the change.

The fibre cable work is less visible but just as important. It builds the digital spine that modern rail safety needs. Kavach can only roll out at scale if the network under it is solid.

Taken together, the three projects show a clear direction. Indian Railways is investing in power, data, and safety at the same time. The ₹765 crore is part of a much larger plan that will unfold over the coming years.

AT A GLANCE

Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India, 10 March 2026