Nagpur Railway Division Reports Strong Performance with 86% Punctuality
The Central Railway Nagpur Division has achieved a significant milestone, registering 86% punctuality for mail and express trains during the fiscal year 2025-26. This improvement highlights efficient train management despite ongoing infrastructure upgrades and increased traffic volumes across the network.
Infrastructure and Passenger Initiatives Drive Efficiency
Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Vinayak Garg announced these results at a media briefing on Thursday, noting that the division operates an average of 151 mail and express trains alongside 121 passenger trains daily. He emphasized that multiple passenger-friendly facilities have been rolled out, enhancing travel comfort, speed, and reliability for commuters.
Key initiatives include station upgrades to improve train traffic movements and increase line capacity for smoother operations. Additional loop lines have been commissioned at numerous stations, reducing delays and boosting operational flexibility. Furthermore, the 23 km WR-Deoli-Kalam section was electrified in June of the previous year, contributing to better service quality.
Freight Operations Show Remarkable Growth
In freight operations, the division witnessed substantial growth, with iron ore traffic surging by 176.7%, from 1.50 million tonnes (MT) last year to 4.16 MT in 2025-26. Loaded rakes increased from 371 to 1,020, reflecting robust demand. Other sectors also saw positive trends:
- Cement and clinker loading rose by 12.7%
- Iron and steel loading increased by 90.3%
- Container loading grew by 4.7%
Technological and Maintenance Advancements
The division has implemented several technological upgrades to bolster efficiency. A Unified Kavach Control Centre was established in the divisional office, featuring 102 towers—the highest in Central Railway. This is supported by automatic block signalling completed across nearly 50 km, resulting in an almost 50% improvement in operations.
Maintenance quality has also been enhanced with the commissioning of the first Pit Wheel Lathe at the Ajni coaching depot, which improves coach maintenance and reduces turnaround time. Performance metrics over the last four years show notable reductions in incidents:
- Wagon detachment decreased by 63%
- Rail/weld failures dropped by 81.82%
- OHE failures fell by 42.86%
Additionally, track renewal rates increased by 14.37% to 108.54 km, and 20 level crossings were closed with five defective layouts corrected.
Speed Restrictions Relaxed to Boost Punctuality
To further improve train speeds and punctuality, the Central Railways has relaxed speed restrictions on key sections of the Bhopal-Nagpur route:
- Magardoh-Dhodra Mohar (Down) in Betul, MP: Increased from 65 to 85 kmph
- Bhandak-Majri Jn (Up) in Chandrapur: Raised from 75 to 130 kmph
- Tinkheda-Katol (Down) in Nagpur: Enhanced from 100 to 130 kmph
Sectional speeds have also been increased on new lines, such as the 3rd and 4th lines between Ajni and Khapri (9 km) on the Nagpur-Wardha route and the 3rd line between Godhani and Bharatwada (7 km) on the Itarsi-Chhindwara route, now set at 110 kmph to alleviate congestion.
Future Developments: Diamond Crossing Upgrade
Looking ahead, another significant development is in the pipeline: the upgrade of the famous Diamond Crossing. This project aims to increase train speeds at the junction from the current 10 kmph, further enhancing operational efficiency and passenger experience.
DRM Garg was accompanied by senior officials including Divisional Commercial Manager Aman Mittal and Senior Divisional Operations Manager Krishnath Patil, underscoring the collaborative effort behind these achievements. The division's performance reflects a comprehensive approach to railway management, balancing infrastructure development with service quality improvements.
