Eastern Railway (ER) has received clearance to install Electronic Interlocking (EI) systems at 32 stations on High Density Network (HDN) and Highly Utilised Network (HUN) routes, officials confirmed on Wednesday, 17 June. The Indian Railways has sanctioned ₹405 crore for the project, marking a significant step in modernising signalling infrastructure on some of the country's busiest corridors.

What the Project Covers

Of the 32 stations earmarked for the upgrade, 25 currently operate on older Panel Interlocking (PI) or Route Relay Interlocking (RRI) systems. The remaining 7 stations use Intermediate Block Signalling (IBS). All will be transitioned to state-of-the-art EI technology under the sanctioned plan.

'The Indian Railways has approved ₹405 crore for this signal upgradation project. This is part of Indian Railways' broader strategy to modernise signalling systems on critical routes and improve reliability, safety and operational performance across the network,' officials said in a statement.

Why the Old Systems Had to Go

The legacy relay-based signalling infrastructure has accumulated significant operational liabilities over the years. According to officials, issues including non-segregation of clean and dirty wiring, outdated power supply arrangements, improper earthing systems, and ageing equipment have collectively driven up maintenance requirements and elevated the risk of failures.

These shortcomings are especially consequential on high-density corridors where even brief signalling disruptions can cascade into widespread delays. Notably, some Eastern Railway routes — including stretches of the Howrah–New Delhi corridor — already operate at more than 100 per cent of rated capacity.

What Electronic Interlocking Brings

EI systems deploy advanced digital technology to govern train movements and signalling operations with greater precision. Compared to conventional RRI systems, EI reduces the probability of signalling failures, improves system availability, and enables faster fault restoration. The upgrade will also lay the groundwork for integrating advanced technologies such as Kavach, Automatic Block Signalling, and Centralised Traffic Control on high-density routes.

Vande Bharat and Future Operations

'Upgradation of signals is of utmost importance, with the introduction of modern trains like the Vande Bharat Express. There are plans to run a Vande Bharat sleeper train between Howrah and New Delhi. Upgraded signals would aid in safer, smoother and faster travel for passengers,' officials noted.

The project positions Eastern Railway to support next-generation train operations while raising the safety baseline for both passenger and freight services. With implementation underway, the focus now shifts to execution timelines and whether the upgrades will be completed before the Vande Bharat sleeper service is rolled out.