Indian Railways has approved a ₹163-crore project to modernise the electric traction system on the Parbhani-Mudkhed double-line section in the Nanded Division of South Central Railway, aimed at boosting network capacity, improving freight movement and supporting the operation of high-speed passenger services, including Vande Bharat Express trains.

The project involves upgrading the existing 1x25 kV electric traction system to an advanced 2x25 kV system across 164 track kilometres, along with the development of associated power supply infrastructure to handle increased electrical demand, the Ministry of Railways said.

The Parbhani-Mudkhed route 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 enhance the reliability and capacity of power supply for train operations, enabling the corridor to accommodate higher freight volumes and facilitate faster passenger services.

The ministry said the project aligns with Indian Railways’ broader infrastructure modernisation initiatives and will contribute towards achieving the target of 3,000 million tonnes of freight loading by 2029-30.