NE INFRA BUREAU
NEW DELHI, APR 5
In a decisive infrastructure push with far-reaching business and operational implications, Indian Railways has approved the Provision of 4×48 Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) Backbone in Ahmedabad and Ratlam Divisions at a total cost of ₹398.36 crore, significantly strengthening the communication spine of Western Railway.
- Indian Railways clears ₹398.36 crore OFC backbone to supercharge Ahmedabad & Ratlam divisions
- 1929 RKm high-capacity fibre network to anchor Kavach and LTE-driven signalling ecosystem
- Project nested under ₹27,693 crore national modernisation push and ₹2,800 crore Western Railway sub-plan
- Mega infra upgrade to redefine safety, speed and seamless railway communications
The project is 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)”, which carries a massive sanctioned outlay of ₹27,693 crore under Works Programme 2024–25 (PH-33). A dedicated ₹2,800 crore sub-umbrella work for Western Railway has enabled the rollout of this critical project.
At the execution level, the initiative will deploy 2×48 fibre OFC cables spanning 1929 Route Kilometres (RKm), creating a robust, high-bandwidth and resilient communication backbone across key divisions:
- 1456 RKm in Ahmedabad Division
- 473 RKm in Ratlam Division
Digital Backbone Meets Safety Tech
This strategic fibre expansion is not merely an infrastructure addition—it is a foundational enabler for next-generation railway systems. The enhanced OFC backbone will:
- Support modern signalling systems
- Accelerate Kavach implementation, India’s indigenous train collision avoidance system
- Enable seamless, real-time data transmission across the network
- Deliver higher capacity, reliability and redundancy in railway communications
Business & Operational Impact
From a business perspective, the project signals a strong commitment to digitally transforming railway operations, unlocking measurable gains in:
- Operational efficiency through faster communication systems
- Safety assurance via advanced signalling integration
- Freight optimisation with better network coordination
- Passenger experience through improved service delivery
The initiative aligns with Indian Railways’ long-term vision of becoming a technology-driven, high-efficiency transport backbone for India’s economic growth.
