Eastern Railway safety inspection: Railway Board official reviews electrification at Bandel
Synopsis
A Railway Board official's unannounced inspection of Eastern Railway's Bandel section has put a spotlight on a persistent gap: ER is one of 15 zonal railways still short of full electrification. The visit combined safety audits, a push for rigorous maintenance culture, and a review of the HOG upgrade that is already cutting diesel use on premium trains.
Key Takeaways
Ramendra Kumar Tewari , Additional Member (Railway Electrification), Railway Board , inspected Eastern Railway installations on 23 September 2026 .
Eastern Railway is one of 15 out of 19 zonal railways yet to achieve 100 per cent electrification .
Inspection covered Bandel station , TRD Depot , and Bandel Substation along the Howrah-Memari section .
The official called for stricter maintenance adherence and enhanced skill development at Model OHE Depots .
ER has upgraded rakes from EOG to HOG on Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains, eliminating diesel generator cars and adding passenger coaches.
Hundreds of metres of ageing contact and catenary wires have been replaced to prevent overhead equipment snaps.
Ramendra Kumar Tewari, Additional Member (Railway Electrification), Railway Board, on 23 September 2026 conducted an on-ground inspection of key electrical installations under Eastern Railway (ER), focusing on fire safety, passenger safety, and the reliability of overhead electrical equipment. The visit comes as ER remains among 15 of the 19 zonal railways yet to achieve 100 per cent electrification.
Key Locations Inspected
Tewari, accompanied by Dhaneswar Mohanta, Principal Chief Electrical Engineer, Eastern Railway, covered the Howrah-Memari section in an inspection car. Key facilities reviewed included Bandel station, the TRD (Traction Distribution) Depot, and the Bandel Substation.
The inspection assessed protective coordination at the substation, passenger amenities, and the adequacy of maintenance procedures. Tewari interacted directly with field staff, enquiring about current maintenance practices, the status of recent failures, and corrective steps taken to prevent recurrence.
What the Official Emphasised
According to officials, Tewari stressed strict adherence to prescribed maintenance protocols and called for heightened vigilance at the field level to ensure safe and dependable operation of electrical installations. He also highlighted the role of Model OHE (Overhead Equipment) Depots as centres for building technical knowledge and practical skills among staff.
'He advised that focused training and skill development of field staff should be undertaken to enhance the reliability and safety of OHE installations,' an official said.
Smart Upgrades Already Under Way
Eastern Railway's electrical department has rolled out several modernisation measures in recent months. A significant initiative has been the upgrade of train rakes from End On Generation (EOG) to Head On Generation (HOG) — a shift that eliminates the noise and diesel consumption associated with generator cars on fully air-conditioned services such as the Rajdhani and Shatabdi expresses.
Under the HOG model, electricity is drawn directly from the overhead equipment through the locomotive to power lighting, fans, and air-conditioning inside Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches, removing the need for separate generator cars. This has freed space for additional passenger coaches on those trains, reportedly improving confirmed-ticket availability.
Wire Replacement to Prevent OHE Snaps
The Traffic Distribution wing has also been proactively replacing ageing contact and catenary wires to reduce the risk of overhead equipment snaps. Hundreds of metres of wire have already been replaced as part of this preventive maintenance drive, aimed at curbing both accidents and service disruptions.
With ER's full electrification still a work in progress, sustained investment in infrastructure upkeep and workforce training will be critical to closing the gap safely.
Point of View
But inspection visits alone cannot substitute for a funded, time-bound electrification roadmap for the remaining zones. The HOG upgrade is a meaningful efficiency gain, but its full benefit is capped until the underlying OHE network is complete and reliable. The real accountability test is whether corrective actions flagged during such inspections are tracked and closed — or whether they remain a checklist exercise.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current electrification status of Eastern Railway?
Eastern Railway is among 15 of the 19 zonal railways in India that have not yet achieved 100 per cent electrification. Regular maintenance of substations and overhead equipment is critical in the interim to prevent fires and service disruptions.
What did the Railway Board official inspect during the visit?
Additional Member Ramendra Kumar Tewari inspected the Howrah-Memari section, including Bandel station, the TRD Depot, and the Bandel Substation, focusing on fire safety, passenger amenities, protective coordination, and the reliability of electrical installations.
What is the difference between EOG and HOG in Indian Railways?
End On Generation (EOG) uses diesel-powered generator cars attached to trains to supply electricity, while Head On Generation (HOG) draws power directly from the overhead equipment through the locomotive. HOG eliminates diesel consumption and noise from generator cars, and frees up space for additional passenger coaches.
How does the HOG upgrade benefit train passengers?
By removing generator cars from trains like the Rajdhani and Shatabdi, the HOG system allows railways to attach more passenger coaches to each rake, which reportedly improves confirmed-ticket availability for travellers.
What maintenance steps has Eastern Railway taken to improve OHE safety?
Eastern Railway's Traffic Distribution wing has replaced hundreds of metres of ageing contact and catenary wires to prevent overhead equipment snaps. Staff training through Model OHE Depots has also been prioritised to build technical competency among field personnel.
