**Executive Summary**
Indian Railways has approved a ₹200 crore project to install a 48-fibre Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) backbone across 1,696.2 Route Kilometres (RKm) in the South Eastern Railway. Announced on June 30, 2026, the initiative aims to modernize digital communication infrastructure across four major divisions: Adra, Chakradharpur, Kharagpur, and Ranchi. The project is designed to enhance operational safety, efficiency, and coordination through a high-capacity, resilient communication network.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Project Scope and Scale**
* **Total Investment:** ₹200 crore sanctioned for the provision of Balance 48-Fibre OFC.
* **Total Coverage:** Installation across 1,696.2 Route Kilometres within the South Eastern Railway network.
* **Divisional Breakdown:**
* Adra Division: 545.4 RKm
* Ranchi Division: 418.6 RKm
* Chakradharpur Division: 392.3 RKm
* Kharagpur Division: 339.9 RKm
**Operational Improvements**
* **Reliability:** Creation of a robust, high-capacity backbone to improve the resilience of communication systems.
* **Data Transmission:** Support for faster transmission of operational data across the network.
* **Coordination:** Enhanced communication links between stations, control offices, and field units.
**Modernization and Future Readiness**
* **Technology Integration:** Provides the necessary digital foundation to support modern railway technologies.
* **Capacity Expansion:** Strengthens infrastructure to accommodate future expansion of the South Eastern Railway network.
* **Strategic Goal:** Part of a broader national effort to ensure safer, smarter, and more efficient train operations.
**Impact Analysis**
**South Eastern Railway (Adra, Chakradharpur, Kharagpur, and Ranchi Divisions)**
**Impact**
The divisions will receive a significantly upgraded digital communication backbone, replacing or supplementing existing systems with a high-capacity 48-fibre cable. This will lead to more reliable coordination and more efficient data management across nearly 1,700 RKm.
**Action Required**
The relevant divisions must facilitate and manage the installation of the OFC as per the sanctioned RKm allocations for each region.
**Railway Control Offices and Field Units**
**Impact**
These units will benefit from improved connectivity and faster data transmission, directly affecting real-time coordination and operational responsiveness.
**Action Required**
Personnel must integrate the new high-capacity network into daily operations once the installation is complete to improve coordination between stations and field units.
**Indian Railways (National Level)**
**Impact**
This project contributes to the national objective of modernizing critical infrastructure and ensuring technology-driven railway operations.
**Action Required**
Oversee the execution of the ₹200 crore expenditure to ensure the project meets the goal of strengthening the digital foundation for future national network capacity.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The primary governing body responsible for approving the ₹200 crore optical fibre cable infrastructure project.
48-Fibre Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) Project: A communication infrastructure initiative to lay a digital backbone over 1,696.2 route kilometres to enhance railway operational efficiency.
South Eastern Railway: The specific railway zone under which the optical fibre cable project is being implemented.
Adra, Chakradharpur, Kharagpur and Ranchi Divisions: The four key railway divisions where the OFC installation is sanctioned to strengthen communication networks.
Ministry of Railways
Indian Railways Approves ₹200 Crore Optical
Fibre Cable Project Covering Nearly 1,700 Route
Kilometres Across South Eastern Railway
48-Fibre OFC Backbone to Be Laid Across Adra,
Chakradharpur, Kharagpur and Ranchi Divisions to
Strengthen Faster and More Reliable Railway
Communications
प्रव तथ: 30 JUN 2026 5:57PM by PIB Delhi
In a significant step towards strengthening the digital communication backbone of Indian Railways, Indian
Railways has approved the provision of Balance 48-Fibre Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) across South Eastern
Railway at a cost of ₹200 crore.
The project will provide 48-fibre OFC connectivity over 1,696.2 Route Kilometres (RKm) across four
major divisions of South Eastern Railway, reinforcing the communication network that supports safe,
efficient and technology-driven railway operations.
Strengthening the Communication Backbone
The sanctioned work covers installation of OFC across the following divisions:
Adra Division: 545.4 RKm
Chakradharpur Division: 392.3 RKm
Kharagpur Division: 339.9 RKm
Ranchi Division: 418.6 RKm
Together, these works will strengthen communication infrastructure over 1,696.2 Route Kilometres of
South Eastern Railway.
Supporting Safe and Modern Railway Operations
The upgraded fibre optic backbone will provide a robust, high-capacity communication network for
railway operations. It will enhance the reliability and resilience of communication systems, support faster
transmission of operational data, and improve coordination between stations, control offices and field
units.
The project will also provide the necessary communication infrastructure to support modern railway
technologies, improve operational efficiency and strengthen the digital foundation for future capacity
expansion across the South Eastern Railway network.
The approval is part of Indian Railways' continuing efforts to modernise critical railway infrastructure
through advanced communication systems, ensuring safer, smarter and more efficient train operations
across the national network.***
Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Ritu Raj/ Manik Sharma
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