A major capacity enhancement project has been cleared for the Parbhani–Mudkhed rail section in Maharashtra, with Indian Railways approving an investment of ₹163 crore to modernise the electric traction system on the route. The upgrade is expected to strengthen train operations on one of the busiest stretches of the South Central Railway, enabling faster movement of freight trains and supporting the introduction of additional passenger services, including Vande Bharat trains.
The project covers more than 164 track kilometres in the Nanded Division and involves replacing the existing 1×25 kV traction system with the more advanced 2×25 kV configuration. The higher-capacity system will provide a more stable power supply, allowing the section to accommodate heavier freight trains, improve operational reliability and reduce bottlenecks on the route.
The Parbhani–Mudkhed section forms part of the strategically important Highly Utilised Network (HUN) Route-9, which links Ajmer, Indore, Khandwa, Akola, Purna, Mudkhed, Secunderabad, Mahbubnagar and Dhone. Strengthening this corridor is expected to improve connectivity for both freight and passenger traffic across western, central and southern India.
According to the Ministry of Railways, the traction upgrade is aligned with Indian Railways’ broader strategy to increase network capacity and achieve its target of 3,000 million tonnes of freight loading by 2029-30. Besides supporting higher freight volumes, the project is expected to improve energy efficiency and enhance the overall performance of train operations on the corridor.