Currently, 196 km has four rail lines, with 3rd and 4th line work underway on the 64 km Dahanu Road-Virar stretch.
NEW DELHI: Indian Railways is making notable progress in enhancing both speed and capacity on its crucial corridors, particularly the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah routes. A variety of infrastructure projects and surveys are being undertaken to boost operational efficiency and elevate passenger convenience.
For the Delhi-Mumbai Corridor (spanning 1,386 km), Indian Railways is advancing its initiative to raise the sectional speed to 160 kmph. Currently, out of the total length, 196 km is already equipped with four rail lines, while work is in progress on the construction of the 3rd and 4th lines between Dahanu Road and Virar (64 km). Additionally, a survey for the construction of the 3rd and 4th lines for the remaining 1,126 km has been sanctioned. The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), covering a distance of 1,404 km, has been largely completed, with work still ongoing for the remaining 102 km. Meanwhile, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) Corridor, spanning 508 km, is currently under construction.
Likewise, for the Delhi-Howrah Corridor (1,450 km), efforts to enhance sectional speed to 160 kmph are also well underway. Of the entire corridor, 194 km already features a 4-line section, while 312 km comprises a 3-line section, and the remaining 944 km consists of double-line rail tracks. Several multi-tracking projects are in various stages of implementation, including Son Nagar–Andal (375 km), Aligarh–Daud Khan 3rd line (18 km), Mughalsarai–Allahabad 3rd line (150 km), Kalipahari–Bakhtarnagar 5th line (18 km), Saktigarh–Chandanpur 4th line (43 km), and the extension of Nimcha up avoiding line (9.42 km). Surveys for additional tracks, including a 3rd line (480 km), a 4th line (96 km), and a 5th line (151 km), have also been approved. Moreover, the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), covering a total of 1,337 km, has been fully commissioned.
At present, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, spanning 508 km, remains the only sanctioned high-speed rail initiative under execution. This project is being developed with both technical and financial
In addition, Indian Railways continues to prioritize passenger amenities through the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. This long-term development plan aims to modernize railway stations by incorporating enhanced facilities such as improved station access, upgraded waiting halls, escalators, platform enhancements, and free Wi-Fi. The initiative also emphasizes ‘One Station One Product’ kiosks, executive lounges, business meeting spaces, sustainable infrastructure, and the transformation of key stations into city centers. So far, 1,337 stations have been earmarked for redevelopment under this scheme.
Furthermore, to strengthen rail safety, Indian Railways is actively modernizing its signaling systems. Key improvements include the installation of Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems, centralized operation of points and signals, complete track circuiting, and interlocking of level crossings. Another significant step towards ensuring secure railway operations is the implementation of the ‘Kavach’ Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, which adheres to the highest safety certification standards.
With these developments, Indian Railways continues its strategic efforts to improve operational efficiency, enhance passenger experience, and bolster overall safety across its extensive network.