CRS Clears 62-km Banda–Khurhand–Dingvahi Doubling After 120 km/h Speed Trial

In a major step towards decongesting one of the busiest routes in Bundelkhand, Commissioner of Railway Safety (North Eastern Circle) Pranjeev Saxena today concluded the mandatory two-day statutory inspection of the newly doubled Banda – Dingwahi – Khurhand rail section (approximately 62 route km) on North Central Railway’s Jhansi Division and granted authorisation for commercial train operations.

Accompanied by Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) Himanshu Goswami and Divisional Railway Manager Aniruddh Kumar, the CRS conducted exhaustive safety checks on the second and final day of inspection.

The day began with a thorough examination at Banda station, where Saxena inspected newly commissioned signalling installations including the panel room, battery room, OFC room and relay room linked to the second line. He interacted directly with on-duty staff, testing their technical knowledge and adherence to safety protocols, while his team scrutinised all critical safety documents and protection systems.

The highlight was an intensive motor trolley inspection of the newly laid Down line from Dingwahi to Banda. Every element — track geometry, points and crossings, curves, level-crossing gates, signals, traction equipment, and major/minor bridges — was scrutinised for workmanship and stability.

Following the physical inspection, a high-speed confirmation run was successfully completed using a special speed-trial coach that attained 120 km/h on the new track — comfortably exceeding the sectional speed limit of 110 km/h. The trial confirmed excellent ride quality and structural integrity.

Post-trial checks were also carried out at Dingwahi and Khurhand stations covering platforms, signalling and passenger amenities.

After reviewing all findings, CRS Pranjeev Saxena formally authorised opening of the doubled section for regular traffic, subject to final paperwork.

Strategic Gains for Jhansi Division & Bundelkhand Region

• Elimination of single-line bottlenecks on the vital Jhansi–Manikpur–Prayagraj corridor
• Seamless crossing and overtaking, resulting in substantial time savings for passengers
• Enhanced freight mobility and punctuality for cement, foodgrain and mineral traffic
• Scope for introduction of new passenger trains and better timetable adherence
• Increased sectional capacity to handle future traffic growth

The doubling project forms part of North Central Railway’s aggressive infrastructure push in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. With this section now ready, trains heading towards Prayagraj, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar will experience significantly reduced delays.

Commercial operations on the new line are expected to commence within the next few days, marking another milestone in Indian Railways’ mission to double critical routes and achieve 100% electrification and capacity enhancement by 2030.