Nagpur Railway Invests ₹11.5 Crore in Cutting-Edge Technology to Combat Monsoon Delays
The South East Central Railway has taken a decisive step to address persistent train delays caused by waterlogging on tracks. Officials have rolled out an electronic tender worth ₹11.5 crore for a significant technological upgrade in the Nagpur Division.
Targeting Flood-Prone Stretches with Modern Systems
This ambitious project focuses on installing Multi-Section Digital Axle Counter systems across sections that frequently experience flooding. The primary goal is to prevent rain-triggered signal failures that have plagued operations for years.
The railway aims to provide a sophisticated backup for ageing track circuits, ensuring that train services continue smoothly even when tracks become submerged during heavy rainfall.
The Monsoon Challenge and Traditional System Limitations
Every monsoon season brings familiar problems to Nagpur's railway network. Water accumulation on low-lying stretches and corrosion on rail sections disrupts conventional track circuits. These disruptions often create false "track occupied" indications, forcing trains to either halt completely or move at crawling speeds through affected areas.
The traditional systems rely on electrical continuity through rails and ballast, both of which become unreliable when exposed to moisture. This vulnerability has caused significant operational headaches for railway authorities and inconvenience for passengers.
How the New Technology Works
MSDAC represents a modern electronic signalling approach that detects train presence through a completely different mechanism. Instead of relying on electrical continuity, the system counts axles using digital sensors mounted directly on the rails.
These axle detectors operate on electromagnetic principles, making them far more resilient to water exposure. Remarkably, the sensors can continue functioning properly even when completely submerged for extended periods.
The railway plans to implement MSDAC as a parallel and independent system alongside existing infrastructure. This dual approach will ensure accurate train detection continues uninterrupted under severe waterlogged conditions.
Project Timeline and Implementation
Railway officials have established a twelve-month completion period for the installation work. Following this implementation phase, the project will enter a maintenance period to ensure long-term reliability.
This technological intervention represents a proactive response to climate challenges affecting railway operations. By addressing the root cause of monsoon disruptions, the South East Central Railway hopes to significantly improve service reliability for passengers traveling through the Nagpur Division.
