₹895 Cr Rail Infra Boost

New Delhi, May 03: The Union government has approved infrastructure and capacity augmentation projects worth ₹895.30 crore to strengthen metro rail systems and enhance railway bridge safety, the Ministry of Railways said.

Of the total outlay, projects worth ₹671.72 crore have been sanctioned to upgrade the power supply system of the North–South Corridor of Kolkata Metro. The scope includes installation of seven new traction substations at a cost of ₹291.06 crore, along with augmentation and modernisation of auxiliary and traction substations between Esplanade and Kavi Subhash.

The project also involves upgrading power systems from 11 kV to 33 kV in select elevated sections. Originally built in the 1980s to support train intervals of around five minutes, the corridor is expected to achieve a reduced headway of 2.5 minutes post-upgrade, significantly enhancing capacity and service frequency.

In addition, a ₹223.58 crore project has been approved for strengthening bridge infrastructure in the Adra division under South Eastern Railway. This includes construction of substructure for Bridge No. 520 on both up and down lines between Madhukunda and Damodar, along with yard remodelling and track works.

The existing Damodar bridge, built in 1903 and 1965 for respective lines, has aged considerably and requires reconstruction of its foundation and substructure. The section is part of a key freight corridor linking Asansol and Tatanagar and serves as a critical coal transport route with high traffic density.

The projects are expected to improve safety, reliability, and operational efficiency, while supporting industrial activity in the Durgapur–Asansol belt, in line with the government’s broader infrastructure modernisation push.