**Executive Summary**
Indian Railways has sanctioned ₹1,364.45 crore to enhance safety, signalling, and communication infrastructure across multiple railway zones as part of the 2024–25 Works Programme. The approved projects include the installation of Kavach Version 4.0 on Southern Railway locomotives, the expansion of Optical Fibre Communication (OFC) networks in Northern and North Central Railways, and the implementation of electronic interlocking in the South Central Railway. These initiatives aim to modernize the network, reduce manual intervention, and improve operational safety.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Kavach Installation (Southern Railway)**
* An allocation of ₹208.81 crore has been sanctioned to install Kavach Version 4.0 on 232 locomotives.
* This work is part of a larger ₹2,950 crore sub-umbrella allocation for Southern Railway under the 2024–25 Works Programme.
* The project focuses on strengthening train collision avoidance systems through communication backbones like Long-Term Evolution (LTE).
**Communication Backbone Upgrades (Northern Railway)**
* ₹400.86 crore has been approved for three itemized works to strengthen communication infrastructure.
* The project involves laying 2×48 fibre cables across 3,200+ route kilometres:
* **Ambala Division:** 926.05 route km (₹115.74 crore).
* **Delhi Division:** 1,204 route km including Optical Fiber Communication rooms (₹165.49 crore).
* **Lucknow Division:** 1,074 route km (₹119.63 crore).
**OFC Network Expansion (North Central Railway)**
* A sanctioned outlay of ₹176.76 crore is designated for 2×48 fibre OFC cables across 2,196 route kilometres.
* The project covers the Prayagraj (1,016 km), Jhansi (709 km), and Agra (471 km) divisions to support the Kavach rollout and improve high-density route communication.
**Electronic Interlocking (South Central Railway)**
* ₹578.02 crore has been allocated to replace panel interlocking with electronic interlocking systems at 49 stations.
* Works include 35 stations in the Guntakal Division (₹426.82 crore) and 14 stations in the Nanded Division (₹151.20 crore).
* The objective is to enhance signalling reliability and safety on high-density (HDN/HUN) routes.
**Impact Analysis**
**Southern Railway**
**Impact**
232 locomotives will be equipped with advanced Kavach Version 4.0 technology, significantly increasing safety and collision avoidance capabilities.
**Action Required**
Proceed with the installation of on-board Kavach equipment and LTE communication backbones on the specified locomotive fleet.
**Northern and North Central Railways**
**Impact**
The capacity and reliability of communication systems will be enhanced over 5,300+ route kilometres, providing the necessary infrastructure for modern signalling and Kavach deployment.
**Action Required**
Execute the laying of 2×48 fibre cables across the Ambala, Delhi, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Jhansi, and Agra divisions.
**South Central Railway**
**Impact**
Operational safety and efficiency will improve at 49 stations by reducing manual intervention through modernized electronic interlocking systems.
**Action Required**
Undertake the replacement of existing panel interlocking systems with electronic interlocking at identified stations in the Guntakal and Nanded divisions.
Key Entities Referenced
Kavach: An indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system designed to prevent train collisions, with version 4.0 being deployed to enhance operational safety across multiple railway zones.
Ministry of Railways: The primary government authority responsible for approving the ₹1,364.45 crore outlay for railway safety, signalling, and communication infrastructure modernization.
Works Programme (Pink Book) 2024–25: The official budgetary document of Indian Railways that details sanctioned projects and fund allocations, including the 'Umbrella Works' for safety and communication upgrades.
Southern, Northern, North Central, and South Central Railway Zones: The primary administrative divisions of Indian Railways where the sanctioned safety projects, including Kavach deployment and electronic interlocking, are to be implemented.
Electronic Interlocking: A safety-critical signalling technology being installed at 49 stations in South Central Railway to reduce manual intervention and improve operational safety.
Ministry of Railways
Indian Railways Approves ₹1,364.45 Crore for
Kavach Deployment and Signalling
Modernisation Across Multiple Zones
Installation of Kavach Version 4.0 on 232 Southern Railway
Locomotives with ₹208.81 Crore Allocation to Strengthen
Train Collision Avoidance
Optical Fibre Communication Backbone to be Upgraded
Across 3,200+ Route Kilometres in Northern Railway to
Support Reliable Signalling worth ₹400.86 Crore
2×48 Fibre OFC Network Over 2,196 Route Kilometres in
North Central Railway to Support Kavach Rollout with an
Outlay of ₹176.76 Crore
Electronic Interlocking at 49 Stations on High-density Routes
in South Central Railway worth ₹578.02 Crore to Reduce
Manual Intervention and Improve Operational Safety
Posted On: 06 APR 2026 5:47PM by PIB Delhi
Indian Railways has approved multiple projects worth ₹1,364.45 crore to strengthen safety, signalling
and communication infrastructure across its network. The sanctioned works include provision of Kavach
on locomotives, expansion of optical fibre cable network and replacement of panel interlocking with
electronic interlocking systems across various railway zones.
Kavach equipment to be installed on 232 locomotives in Southern Railway
Indian Railways has sanctioned provision of on-board Kavach equipment for 232 locomotives in
Southern Railway at a cost of ₹208.81 crore. The proposal forms part of the umbrella work titled
“Provision of Kavach with communication backbone of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) on balance routes
of Indian Railways (Umbrella Work 2024–25)” included in the Works Programme (Pink Book) 2024–
25, with an overall cost of ₹27,693 crore under PH-33.
A sub-umbrella allocation of ₹2,950 crore has been earmarked for Southern Railway under this
programme. The present work has been proposed within this sub-umbrella and covers installation of
Kavach Version 4.0 equipment on locomotives.
Communication backbone to be strengthened in Northern Railway with 2×48 OFC networkIndian Railways has sanctioned three itemised works in Northern Railway at a total cost of ₹400.86
crore for strengthening of communication backbone infrastructure. These works are part of the umbrella
project titled “Strengthening, repair & replacement of communication backbone over Indian Railways
(Umbrella Work 2024–25)” approved at a cost of ₹4,871 crore under PH-33.
A sub-umbrella provision of ₹871 crore has been allocated for Northern Railway. Under this, three
works have been approved: provision of 2×48 fibre cables along 926.05 route km in Ambala Division at
a cost of ₹115.74 crore; provision of 2×48 fibre cables along 1,204 route km along with Optical Fiber
Communication (OFC) rooms at stations in Delhi Division at a cost of ₹165.49 crore; and provision of
2×48 fibre cables along 1,074 route km in Lucknow Division at a cost of ₹119.63 crore.
The works aim to enhance the capacity and reliability of communication systems across divisions,
which are critical for modern signalling and Kavach deployment.
OFC provision for Kavach over North Central Railway to cover 2,196 route kilometres
Indian Railways has sanctioned provision of 2×48 fibre OFC cables for Kavach over North Central
Railway at a cost of ₹176.7699 crore. The work also falls under the umbrella project for strengthening,
repair and replacement of communication backbone over Indian Railways.
A sub-umbrella allocation of ₹200 crore has been provided for North Central Railway. The present work
has been proposed under this allocation and will cover 2,196 route kilometres, including 1,016 km in
Prayagraj Division, 709 km in Jhansi Division and 471 km in Agra Division.
The project will support deployment of Kavach and improve communication infrastructure across high-
density routes.
Electronic Interlocking works approved in South Central Railway
Indian Railways has sanctioned two itemised works in South Central Railway at a total cost of ₹578.02
crore for replacement of panel interlocking with electronic interlocking systems. The works fall under
the umbrella project titled “Provision of Electronic Interlocking at balance stations on HDN/HUN routes
where Kavach/ABS/CTC is sanctioned (Umbrella Work 2024–25)” approved at a cost of ₹15,164 crore
under PH-33.
A sub-umbrella allocation of ₹1,857 crore has been earmarked for South Central Railway. Under this,
two works have been approved: replacement of panel interlocking with electronic interlocking at 35
stations on HDN/HUN routes in Guntakal Division at a cost of ₹426.82 crore; and similar replacement
at 14 stations on HDN/HUN routes in Nanded Division at a cost of ₹151.20 crore.
The works aim to enhance signalling reliability, reduce manual intervention and improve safety across
high-density routes.
All the sanctioned projects are part of the broader effort to modernise Indian Railways with a focus on
safety, reliability and capacity enhancement. The works will support deployment of Kavach, strengthen
communication backbone and upgrade signalling systems across key routes. These interventions are
expected to improve operational efficiency and ensure safer train operations across the network.
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Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Ritu Raj/ Manik Sharma
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