Indian Railways has approved a ₹405 crore signalling modernisation project on Eastern Railway to replace relay-based interlocking systems with advanced Electronic Interlocking (EI) technology at 32 stations and signalling locations. The upgrade is expected to enhance railway safety, improve reliability, reduce signalling failures and support future technologies such as Kavach and Centralised Traffic Control.
Key Highlights
✅ Indian Railways approves a ₹405 crore signalling upgradation project on Eastern Railway.
✅ Electronic Interlocking systems to replace relay-based interlocking at 32 locations.
✅ Project covers High Density Network (HDN) and Highly Utilised Network (HUN) routes.
✅ Modernisation will improve safety, reliability, fault detection and operational efficiency.
New Delhi, June 22: Indian Railways has approved a major ₹405 crore signalling modernisation project on Eastern Railway, marking another significant step towards enhancing railway safety, reliability and operational efficiency across one of the country’s busiest rail networks. The project involves replacing ageing relay-based interlocking systems with advanced Electronic Interlocking (EI) technology at 32 stations and signalling locations situated on High Density Network (HDN) and Highly Utilised Network (HUN) routes.
The approved project includes the replacement of signalling systems at 25 Panel Interlocking (PI) and Route Relay Interlocking (RRI) stations, along with 7 Intermediate Block Signalling (IBS) locations. These routes handle a substantial volume of passenger and freight traffic and are critical to maintaining seamless rail operations in eastern India.
The initiative forms part of Indian Railways’ broader infrastructure modernisation programme, which aims to upgrade signalling systems across the network, strengthen safety mechanisms and improve the reliability of train operations. Modern signalling is considered one of the most important pillars of railway safety and operational performance.
Many of the existing installations on these routes continue to operate using older relay-based technology. Over time, such systems have faced challenges associated with ageing infrastructure, including non-segregation of clean and dirty wiring, outdated power supply arrangements, inadequate earthing systems and wear and tear of signalling equipment. These factors contribute to higher maintenance requirements and increase the likelihood of signalling failures.
To address these challenges, Indian Railways will deploy state-of-the-art Electronic Interlocking systems, which use digital technology to manage train movements with greater precision and reliability. Electronic Interlocking provides enhanced safety by eliminating many of the limitations associated with conventional relay-based systems and significantly improves the overall dependability of railway operations.
A major advantage of Electronic Interlocking technology is its ability to reduce signalling failures and facilitate faster fault detection and restoration. The system improves availability and ensures smoother train movement by enabling quicker identification and rectification of operational issues. This results in fewer disruptions and enhanced punctuality of train services.
The modernised signalling infrastructure is expected to support both passenger and freight operations on some of India’s most heavily used railway corridors. Improved reliability and operational efficiency will help railways handle increasing traffic volumes while maintaining high safety standards.
The project also aligns with Indian Railways’ long-term vision of developing a technologically advanced railway ecosystem capable of supporting next-generation systems such as Kavach, India’s indigenous train collision avoidance system, Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) and Centralised Traffic Control (CTC). These technologies require robust and modern signalling infrastructure for effective implementation on high-density routes.
With increasing investments in safety and digital transformation, Indian Railways continues to modernise its core infrastructure to meet the growing demands of passengers and freight customers. The Eastern Railway signalling upgrade is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing operational resilience, improving network capacity and supporting future railway innovations.
Conclusion
The ₹405 crore Electronic Interlocking project on Eastern Railway represents a major advancement in Indian Railways’ safety and modernisation agenda. By replacing ageing relay-based systems with advanced digital technology, the project will improve reliability, reduce signalling failures and prepare the railway network for future technologies such as Kavach and automated traffic management systems.
