Indian Railways has approved a ₹398.36 crore project to strengthen its communication infrastructure across the Ahmedabad and Ratlam divisions of Western Railway, in a move aimed at enhancing digital connectivity and supporting advanced safety systems.
The project involves the installation of a 4×48 Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) backbone over a total stretch of 1,929 route kilometres (RKm). Of this, 1,456 RKm will be covered in the Ahmedabad Division, while 473 RKm will be laid in the Ratlam Division.
The Ministry of Railways said the initiative is part of a broader national programme under the umbrella project for the implementation of Kavach, Indian Railways’ indigenous train collision avoidance system, along with a Long Term Evolution (LTE)-based communication backbone. The larger umbrella project has been sanctioned at a cost of ₹27,693 crore under the Works Programme 2024–25.
A dedicated sub-umbrella allocation of ₹2,800 crore has been earmarked for Western Railway, under which this OFC project has been approved.
The upgraded fibre network is expected to significantly improve the capacity, reliability, and efficiency of railway communication systems, enabling seamless and faster data transmission. This will play a critical role in supporting modern signalling technologies and enhancing overall operational safety.
The Ministry noted that the project marks a key step in the ongoing modernisation and digital transformation of Indian Railways, with a focus on improving both passenger services and freight operations through robust communication infrastructure.
