Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced a nationwide initiative aimed at constructing subways to enable safer crossings over railway tracks. This directive, issued by the Ministry of Railways, is set to address the pressing need for improved safety measures at locations where railway lines intersect with residential areas, agricultural land, schools, and workplaces. The subways are intended to be built rapidly, with some installations reportedly taking as little as 12 hours to complete.

Design Focused on User Convenience

According to the Ministry, the design of the subways will prioritize user convenience, allowing pedestrians to effortlessly transport bicycles, motorcycles, and work-related items. With a significant portion of the population residing in rural and semi-urban regions, where crossings are frequent, this initiative seeks to provide a safer alternative for many individuals who currently face substantial risks while traversing railway lines.

Comprehensive Infrastructure Developments

In a broader commitment to enhancing safety and operational efficiency within the Indian Railways, a series of projects have been green-lighted with an investment of approximately Rs 1,236 crore. These projects are targeted at upgrading the communication infrastructure and expanding the Kavach automatic train protection system across multiple railway zones. The Ministry has reported that these approvals cover a total of three distinct proposals that cater to enhancing optical fibre and ground wire networks.

Central Railway’s Enhanced Communication Network

The Central Railway sector will see significant improvements with an investment of Rs 623.63 crore intended to establish a robust dual-path communication infrastructure. This initiative encompasses all five divisions under Central Railway: Solapur, Nagpur, Pune, Bhusawal, and Mumbai. The first component of this plan involves installing a specialized overhead composite wire known as OPGW (96 fibre) along 2,250.68 Rkm of existing 25 KV electric traction lines in specific divisions. This dual-purpose wire will facilitate both earth protection for the traction system and serve as a medium for communication.

Deployment of Optical Fibre for Enhanced Connectivity

Furthering the communication enhancements, underground optical fibre cables (2×48 fibre) will also be laid adjacent to the tracks across 2,673.21 Rkm in all five divisions. When combined with the OPGW installed on the opposite side, this will create two independent fibre paths along each route, providing a robust means of communication even in the event of a failure in one path. The estimated cost for this part of the project stands at Rs 384.6887 crore.

Expansion of Kavach Safety System on Southern Railway

Additionally, the Kavach safety system, which significantly improves train collision avoidance mechanisms, will be extended to cover a distance of 548 km within the Southern Railway zone. This expansion is attributed a budget of Rs 310.18 crore. The aim of this comprehensive safety upgrade is to considerably minimize the occurrences of accidents related to railway crossings and enhance overall safety for passengers and pedestrians alike.

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