₹447.58 Crore Boost for Southern Rail Electrification

Indian Railways has approved two major electrification enhancement projects with a combined outlay of ₹447.58 crore, aimed at boosting capacity and improving operational efficiency on key high-density rail corridors in Karnataka and Telangana.

The projects involve upgrading the existing electric traction system from the conventional 1x25 kV configuration to the advanced 2x25 kV system. This upgrade is expected to improve power supply stability, enable higher train loads, and support increasing passenger and freight traffic across the selected routes.

In Karnataka, the Bengaluru–Tumakuru section under South Western Railway will be upgraded over a stretch of 120 track kilometres at a cost of ₹162.57 crore. This corridor forms a vital part of the broader Pune–Hubballi–Chikjajur–Birur–Tumakuru–Bengaluru–Salem–Kanniyakumari route, one of the busiest railway networks in southern India connecting key industrial and commercial centres.

The modernised traction system is expected to deliver a more reliable and efficient power supply, enabling smoother train operations and improved performance for both passenger and freight services. The upgrade will also facilitate the movement of longer and heavier trains, thereby enhancing cargo handling capacity and reducing operational bottlenecks.

Overall, the initiative is aimed at improving capacity utilisation, supporting growing logistics demand, and strengthening the resilience and efficiency of India’s southern railway infrastructure network, particularly on high-traffic corridors critical to regional economic activity.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.