Insights on funds allocations for modernisation of signalling system of Indian Railways in the Financial Year 2023-24

Modernisation of signalling systems of Indian Railways is a continuous process and is undertaken in order to improve the safety in train operation. Some of the steps taken by Indian Railways for modernisation of the Signalling system are mentioned below.

More Details:

• An in-principle decision taken to provide Electronic Interlocking (EI) in future at all installations. EI are being adopted on a large scale to derive benefits of digital technologies in train operation and to enhance safety. So far, 3108 stations have been provided with El up to 31.05.2023.
• Further, On Indian Railway 6427 (98.8% of total stations) Stations have been equipped with Electrical/Electronic Signalling Interlocking System up to 31.05.2023 replacing old mechanical signalling.
• Axle Counters for Automatic clearance of Block Section (BPAC – Block Proving by Axle Counter) are provided to ensure complete arrival of trains without manual intervention before granting line clearance to receive next train. These systems have been provided on 6397 block sections up to 31.05.2023.
• In order to enhance safety at Level Crossing (LC) gates, interlocking of Level Crossing gates with Signal have been provided at 11093 Level Crossing as on 31.05.2023.
• Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system adopted by Indian Railway. Kavach aids the loco pilot in trains running within specified speed limits by automatic application of brakes in case Loco Pilot fails to do so and also helps the train safely run during inclement weather. Kavach has so far been deployed on 1465 Route km and 121 locomotives (including Electric Multiple Unit rakes) on South Central Railway.
• Issue of standard typical circuits for EI system (Version-1 in 2019 and Version-2 in 2022): Adoption of standard typical circuits helps in standardisation of application logic circuits of EI over Indian Railways.
• Use of Automation tools in Signal design.
• Development of direct driving features in Electronic Interlocking.
• Funds amounting to ₹ 4198 Crores have been allocated for Signalling works in FY 2023-24.

Year-wise and Zone-wise Details of Funds Allocation & Utilisation:

(₹ in Crore):

Zonal Railways	Funds for 2018-19		Funds for 2019-20		Funds for 2020-21		Funds for 2021-22		Funds for 2022-23		Funds for 2023 24
	Alloca-tion	Utiliz ation	Alloca-tion	Utiliz-ation	Alloca-tion	Utiliz-ation	Alloca-tion	Utiliz-ation	Alloca-tion	Utiliz-ation	Alloc-ation
Central	104	113	116	153	115	127	130	131	168	171	238
Eastern	80	97	62	80	66	64	101	73	78	117	141
Northern	146	130	128	133	271	267	303	282	258	308	401
North Eastern	49	50	45	43	53	54	46	51	99	76	131
North East Frontier	48	50	36	44	52	37	52	54	56	55	176
Southern	111	96	82	105	156	219	266	279	307	368	382
South Central	120	116	80	85	187	138	174	161	134	130	174
South Eastern	135	144	118	131	125	117	131	133	101	105	335
Western	121	122	144	169	146	150	236	179	159	177	235
East Central	152	198	152	168	125	136	161	140	174	174	207
East Coast	31	35	48	48	63	44	101	78	164	56	358
North Central	171	162	187	227	266	321	319	318	268	284	500
North Western	56	53	51	63	62	70	87	87	163	155	464
South East Central	64	58	61	66	60	56	53	45	110	97	158
South Western	40	42	30	39	28	28	58	45	40	48	83
West Central	76	70	58	68	72	79	107	82	145	129	207
Metro	2	2	3	1	11	2	7	6	6	6	9
Total	1505	1538	1401	1623	1858	1909	2332	2145	2428	2456	4198

• As per Indian Railways E- Procurement System (IREPS), 339 tenders for Signalling works have been invited during 2023-24 on the Indian Railway network.
• This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronic & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

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Source: PIB- Press Release | Image Credit (representational): South Western Railway