Indian Railways has approved a ₹163-crore project to upgrade the electric traction system on the Parbhani-Mudkhed double line section in the Nanded Division of South Central Railway, a move aimed at enhancing network capacity, supporting higher freight movement and facilitating the operation of Vande Bharat Express trains.
The sanctioned project includes the upgradation of the existing 1×25 kV electric traction system to the more advanced 2×25 kV system over a stretch of 164 track kilometres, along with associated power supply infrastructure to meet increased electrical load requirements.
According to the Ministry of Railways, the Parbhani-Mudkhed section forms part of the strategically important Highly Utilised Network (HUN) Route-9, which connects Ajmer, Indore, Khandwa, Akola, Purna, Mudkhed, Secunderabad, Mahbubnagar and Dhone.
The upgraded traction system is expected to strengthen the power supply for train operations, enabling the route to handle higher freight volumes while supporting the introduction and operation of Vande Bharat Express services on the section.
The project is also expected to contribute to Indian Railways’ long-term objective of achieving 3,000 million tonnes of freight loading by 2029-30 by improving the efficiency and carrying capacity of one of its high-density freight corridors.
The sanction reflects Ministry’s continued focus on modernising its electrical infrastructure and improving operational efficiency across heavily utilised routes, strengthening the country’s rail network to meet growing passenger and freight transportation demands.
