The Ministry of Railways has allotted Rs 4,198 crore for the fiscal year 2023–2024 to improve signalling systems. This choice demonstrates the railway ministry’s commitment to modernising these systems to increase train operations’ efficiency and safety.
In response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Minister of Railways, Communications, and Electronic and Information Technology, provided this information. This financial commitment demonstrates Indian Railways’ commitment to providing a wonderful and safe travel experience while utilising cutting-edge technologies.
In order to stay current with technology, Indian Railways has been advancing the modernization of signalling systems. Electronic Interlocking (EI), a technology that uses digital technology to enhance train operations and safety, will be implemented by Railways at all installations. An amazing 3108 stations will have Electronic Interlocking installed by May 31, 2023.
By May 31, 2023, the majority of stations will have switched to electrical/electronic signalling interlocking systems. Safety is improved by switching from conventional to electronic systems.
Axle Counters for Automatic Clearance of Block Sections (BPAC) is a prime example of Indian Railways’ drive towards automation. By enabling trains to arrive without human assistance, these systems streamline business processes. Axle Counters are present in 6397 block sections as of May 31, 2023.
Vaishnaw stated that by connecting Level Crossing (LC) gates with Signals, safety has been noticeably increased. By May 31, 2023, this significant precaution will have been implemented at 11093 Level Crossings, adding an additional layer of protection for railway employees and passengers.
The development of the native Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system known as Kavach is a remarkable feat. This cutting-edge device assists operators in learning to adhere to posted speed restrictions by automatically deploying brakes when necessary. Kavach has been deployed on 121 locomotives and 1465 route km, demonstrating its efficacy in providing secure train travel, particularly in difficult weather circumstances.
Moreover, standardising signalling systems has received a lot of attention. Application of consistent logic circuits has been made possible across the Indian Railways network thanks to the adoption of standard typical circuits for Electronic Interlocking (EI) systems, including Version-1 in 2019 and Version-2 in 2022.
Work is being done to provide a direct driving function for electronic interlocking as part of an ongoing effort to improve things. This development could significantly simplify train operations and improve the effectiveness of the entire system.