The Samikhsya Bureau
NEW DELHI: Indian Railway has started the New Year by achieving a landmark achievement by drastically enhancing the maximum speed to 130 kmph for 1,280 km length out of 1,612 Km in Golden Quadrilateral route over South Central Railway.
The enhanced speed limit could be achieved due to the systematic and planned strengthening of track its infrastructure by removing bottlenecks in these sections on a fast pace, Ministry of Railways stated.
This included heavier rails, laying of 260 meters Long welded rail panels, improvement of curves and gradients among others.
Railways has utilized the opportunity of the Lockdown period and low train movement last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic to complete all necessary infrastructure up-gradation works, the Ministry maintained.
South Central Railway zone has received sanction to enhance the maximum speed limits to 130 kmph along the Golden Diagonal (Grand Trunk) Route of 744 kilometres from Ballarshah to Kazipet and in Kazipet-Vijayawada-Gudur route.
It has also been sanctioned to speed up the limits in Golden Quadrilateral Route (Chennai -Mumbai section) of 536 kms covering Renigunta to Gooty and Gooty to Wadi.
The maximum speed limits in the High-Density Network (HDN) between Secunderabad – Kazipet of 132 Kms distance has already been enhanced to 130 kmph, the Ministry sources said.
As such, including both the Up and Down lines in these sections, a total of 2,824 kms has now been made fit to run at a speed of 130 kmph.
This covers the entire GQ-GD route over SCR, except Vijayawada – Duvvada section, where signalling up-gradation work is in progress, the sources added.
It is noteworthy that despite COVID pandemic, Indian Railways has witnessed an unprecedented growth in development of infrastructure, innovation, capacity expansion of network, freight diversification.
Railways has used Covid challenge as an opportunity to lay the foundation for future development and next level of traveling experience for passengers, the Ministry maintained.
