Railways approves ₹398.36 crore fibre backbone for Ahmedabad and Ratlam divisions
Indian Railways on 4 April 2026 announced a ₹398.36 crore optical fibre cable backbone over 1,929 route km in Western Railway's Ahmedabad and Ratlam divisions to support Kavach.
Summary
Indian Railways has sanctioned an optical fibre cable (OFC) backbone in Western Railway's Ahmedabad and Ratlam divisions at a cost of ₹398.36 crore, the Ministry of Railways said on 4 April 2026. Fibre cable will be laid over 1,929 route km: 1,456 route km in Ahmedabad division and 473 route km in Ratlam division. The work falls under the ₹27,693 crore umbrella work for Kavach with an LTE communication backbone (Works Programme 2024-25), within a ₹2,800 crore sub-umbrella for Western Railway, and will support modern signalling including Kavach.
Key facts
- Cost
- ₹398.36 crore
- Length
- 1,929 route km
- Divisions
- Ahmedabad 1,456 Rkm; Ratlam 473 Rkm (Western Railway)
- Umbrella
- Kavach with LTE backbone, ₹27,693 crore; WR sub-umbrella ₹2,800 crore
- Purpose
- Communication backbone for Kavach and signalling
Practice MCQs 2 questions
What is the cost of the optical fibre cable backbone project approved for Western Railway's Ahmedabad and Ratlam divisions in April 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — ₹398.36 crore
The Railway Ministry put the project cost at ₹398.36 crore; ₹2,800 crore is the Western Railway sub-umbrella.
The ₹398.36 crore optical fibre backbone sanctioned on 4 April 2026 covers which two divisions of Western Railway?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Ahmedabad and Ratlam
The project covers 1,456 route km in Ahmedabad division and 473 route km in Ratlam division.