Post completion of 3rd and 4th line to end bottlenecks on high density routes, Indian Railways is now concentrating on eliminating detentions at zonal inter-changes. The Planning Directorate of Railway Board is bracing up to meet the ambitious 3,000 metric tonnes goods hauling target for rollout time-tabled run of goods trains. At present, Railways’ share in cargo movement is between 27 to 29 per cent (2024-25) as against 65-70 per cent of road sector. Now, Railways’ target is to increase the same to 45 per cent by 2030-31 and for the same, it is planning to eliminate the causes of slowdown. Central Railway: One of the important loading zones of Railways, Central Railway shares jurisdiction with neighbouring South East Central Railway (SECR) and has crossings at Ballarshah, common with South Central Railway (SCR). About 50 trains criss-cross daily here and exchange time lag with SCR is 72 minutes and with SECR, about 207 minutes.

 

To address the issue, a third line is under progress on Wardha-Ballarshah section that would end detention enroute. Additional works proposed include additional loop lines on DN side with alignment of 3rd line in Ballarshah junction. A by-pass is proposed for Ballarshah, by connecting Chandafort with Babupeth station for Manikgarh siding to end detention. Another work identified is a chord line on Chandrapur to Chandafort section to ease congestion at Ballarshah Yard. Also, 4th line is proposed on Wardha-Ballarshah section whose DPR is under preparation. Further, at Pimpalkuti crossover to SCR, about five and half rakes move daily, an RoR is proposed at Majri junction to eliminate surface crossing. Alongside doubling of Majri-Pimpalkuti section is under study. At Nagpur station end, maximum 34 trains criss-cross and cross over time is about 204 minutes. To cut time, upgradation of Nagpur Yard is planned and post integration of 3rd line on Itarsi-Nagpur route, the detention period is likely to reduce significantly.

 

Later, a by-pass line for goods is being built on Nagpur-Ajni section, integrating 3rd and 4th line on Wardha-Nagpur route and 4th line of Itarsi-Nagpur route in the next few years, which would ease the situation. On Godhni Cord cabin route, two additional lines are proposed after 3rd line project at Godhni and a RoR is under construction at Godhni-Bharatwada that would speed up movement. At Parasia crossing with SCR, about 138 minutes are required for movement of goods train, and around seven trains cross daily. Here already, doubling of Amla-Chhindwara section has been completed as also inter-locking of Khirsadoh siding. Remodelling of Parasia yard is likely to be taken up in the next works programme. Thereafter, at Kiratgarh (South Central Railway), nearly 36 trains move over from CR end and detention time is 30 minutes on average. It is felt that post completion of 3rd line on Itarsi-Nagpur route, the issue would be resolved. Also, augmentation of loop lines to full length is on cards and laying of two additional lines on the route and also the 4th line.

 

 

In SECR, the inter-change points are at Godhni (with CR) where about 26 trains are exchanged daily where the detention time is about 67 minutes on average. A Rail-over-Rail (RoR) at Kalamna is proposed whose detailed project report (DPR) is with Railway Board for approval. The point is, at Ballarshah, where 10 trains criss-cross and already work is on to lay additional loop line at Chandafort and doubling of Chandafort-Chandrapur section by laying a loop line is on cards. At Nagpur end, around 35 trains move over and detention is quite long, about 102 minutes and post doubling of Itwari-Kalamna, the issue would be resolved. Another point of long detention is at Chhindwara Junction, but since there is movement of only seven trains, no major rectification is planned right now, states the report. About 155 minutes detention time is recorded here. Thereafter, at Kachhpura crossing with West Central Railway (WCR), an additional loop line at Gwarighat station near Jabalpur is on cards. Around 6 goods trains movement is recorded and for the same doubling of Jabalpur-Gondia is already sanctioned and a final location survey of Sirpur-Kelzar is under study. About 150 minutes are required for inter-change.