New Electronic Interlocking Systems to be installed at 34 Stations across Delhi and Ambala Divisions to boost safety and efficiency

The Ministry of Railways has accorded its approval for two significant infrastructure projects under Northern Railway (NR), aimed at modernizing signaling systems and enhancing safety on High Density (HDN) and Highly Used Networks (HUN). The total sanctioned cost for these projects stands at ₹421.41 Crore. The projects involve the Provision of Electronic Interlocking at stations where the indigenous "Kavach" automatic train protection system is sanctioned. This upgrade is critical for synchronizing modern signaling with the Kavach technology, ensuring safer train operations and higher throughput on busy routes.

The Hon’ble Minister of Railways has approved the following two itemized works:

• Delhi Division (DLI): Provision of Electronic Interlocking at 21 stations on HDN/HUN routes. Cost: ₹292.24 Cr.
• Ambala Division (UMB): Provision of Electronic Interlocking at 13 stations on HDN/HUN routes. Cost: ₹129.17 Cr.

These works have been sanctioned against the sub-umbrella work for Northern Railway (valued at ₹1,547 Cr), which falls under the larger umbrella approval in the Works, Machinery & Rolling Stock Programme (Pink Book) 2024-25.

The transition to Electronic Interlocking (EI) represents a significant leap in railway safety. Unlike traditional mechanical interlocking, EI utilizes computer-based systems to control signals and points, virtually eliminating the possibility of human error. By implementing EI on routes already sanctioned for Kavach, Northern Railway is creating a robust, fail-safe network capable of handling increased traffic density with maximum safety.

Source/NR