Indian Railways Clears ₹448 Crore Traction Modernisation Plan in South India.

In a major push to enhance rail capacity and operational efficiency, the Ministry of Railways has approved the upgradation of the electric traction system on two key South Indian railway sections — the Mahbubnagar–Secunderabad–Medchal section of South Central Railway and the Bengaluru–Tumkur section of South Western Railway.

The Bengaluru–Tumkur section, one of the busiest railway corridors in the region, will see the conversion of its existing 1x25 kV electric traction system to a 2x25 kV system over a stretch of 120 track kilometres. The project has been sanctioned at a cost of ₹162.57 crore, according to an official statement.

The Bengaluru–Tumkur stretch is part of the strategically important Highly Utilised Network (HUN) Route-10, which connects major economic and industrial centres along the Pune–Hubballi–Chikjajur–Birur–Tumkur–Bengaluru–Salem–Kanniyakumari corridor, making it a critical link in southern India’s freight and passenger rail network.

Officials said the upgrade is expected to significantly improve power supply efficiency and support higher train traffic on the busy route, thereby strengthening overall rail infrastructure in the region.