- Gujarat’s Rajkot–Bhavnagar divisions get ₹302 crore fibre boost to complete digital backbone
- Tamil Nadu anchors Kavach 4.0 rollout across 548 km high-density routes
- ₹623 crore dual-path fibre network to fortify Central Railway’s communication spine
- Safety + speed: Kavach expansion to prevent collisions and enhance operational precision
- Revenue edge: surplus fibre capacity to be monetised as “dark fibre”
NE INFRASTRUCTURE BUREAU
NEW DELHI, MAR 26
In a decisive push to modernise railway safety and communication systems, Indian Railways has approved projects worth ₹1,236 crore, with a sharp regional focus on Gujarat’s fibre connectivity and Tamil Nadu’s Kavach safety deployment.
The approvals span fibre optic backbone expansion and the rollout of the indigenous Kavach 4.0 automatic train protection system, reinforcing the Railways’ shift toward tech-driven, fail-safe operations.
Gujarat Gets Fibre Backbone Boost
A key highlight is the ₹302.26 crore investment in Gujarat, where optical fibre cable (OFC) networks will be completed across Rajkot and Bhavnagar divisions of Western Railway.
- Fibre cables will be laid over 1,653 km (1,064 km in Rajkot, 589 km in Bhavnagar)
- Dual-side track installation ensures high reliability and redundancy
- This fills the critical last-mile gaps in the region’s communication network
This backbone is crucial for enabling next-gen systems like Kavach and LTE-based train control.
Tamil Nadu Leads Kavach Safety Rollout in South
Tamil Nadu emerges as a key beneficiary in safety upgrades, with Kavach 4.0 set to be deployed on high-density corridors.
- Jolarpettai–Erode (180 km) and Chennai Beach–Tambaram–Chengalpattu (60 km) sections included
- Part of a broader 548 km rollout across Southern Railway, also covering Kerala and Karnataka
- Total outlay: ₹310.18 crore
“Kavach is Indian Railways’ automatic train protection system that prevents collisions by automatically applying brakes if two trains are on a collision course or if a signal is passed at danger,” the official note said.
Central Railway’s Dual Fibre Shield
The largest chunk—₹623.63 crore—goes into building a dual-path fibre communication system across all five Central Railway divisions.
- OPGW (96 fibre) over 2,250.68 route km using existing traction lines
- Underground OFC (2×48 fibre) over 2,673.21 route km
- Ensures zero communication downtime, even if one path fails
This creates a resilient, high-capacity network backbone critical for real-time train operations.
Strategic Impact: Safety, Speed, and Revenue
The integrated approach—combining fibre expansion with Kavach deployment—signals a major leap toward future-ready railway operations.
- Enhanced train safety and collision prevention
- Improved network reliability and operational efficiency
- Monetisation potential via leasing of dark fibre capacity
Officials emphasised that “a strong fibre backbone is essential for Kavach and LTE-based train control systems to function reliably.”
