- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:19 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Indian Railways’ ambitious Mission Raftar is gearing up to increase train speeds to 160 km/h on the busy Delhi-Howrah rail corridor. The first trial is scheduled for October 11 on the 190-kilometer section between Chipiyana Buzurg (Ghaziabad) and Tundla on the North Central Railway (NCR).
If successful, the New Delhi-Tundla section will become the first rail section in India officially approved for 160 km/h speeds. Subsequent trials are planned on the Tundla-Kanpur, Kanpur-Prayagraj, and Prayagraj-Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) sections. Currently, trains on this route run at speeds of 90-130 km/h, and the railways aim to achieve 160 km/h by March 2026.
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The project, covering a 1,433-km stretch, is estimated to cost Rs 6,974.50 crore, with Rs 1,002.12 crore already released.
The success of this high-speed initiative relies heavily on a modern automatic signaling system, already completed on the 760-km section from Ghaziabad to DDU. This system ensures safe, high-speed operation of multiple trains simultaneously, reducing human error and enhancing safety.
Additional technologies include electronic interlocking, integrated power supply, data loggers, dual axle counters, auto reset systems, and earth leakage detectors, aimed at eliminating signaling disruptions at high speeds.
Safety measures include constructing walls along railway tracks, installing metal beam crash barriers, and replacing old tracks with advanced armored tracks. Similar upgrades are being implemented on both the Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-Mumbai routes.
CPRO Shashikant Tripathi said, “With modern technology and upgraded infrastructure, Indian Railways aims to provide passengers with a fast, safe, and reliable travel experience.”
Mission Raftar is expected to significantly reduce travel time and enhance the efficiency of one of India’s busiest rail corridors.