GM/CR inaugurates Optical Ground Wire System on Mumbai Division

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Central Railway introduces new technology to upgrade communication systems for enabling safe train operations

Mumbai: Dharamveer Meena, General Manager of Central Railway inaugurated the Optical Wire System at the 110 KV North-East transmission line near Asangaon on Sunday, 28.09.2025.

The Optical Ground Wire is a new technology introduced on #CentralRailway to upgrade communication systems for enabling safe train operations.

It will also enable enhanced monitoring and implementation of the works.

It’s a pathbreaking initiative to enhance the speed of digital transformation of Bharat.

Principal Chief Electrical Engineer, Divisional Railway Manager, Mumbai Division, Principal Head of Departments and Senior Officers of Central Railway were also present during the inauguration.

Following Railway Board directives for laying of 2 Optical Fibre Cables (#OFC) on each side of the railway tracks to all Zones, Central Railway, in order to overcome the challenges of underground OFC and to enhance the reliability of communication path proposed use of 96F Optical Ground Wire (#OPGW) as Aerial Earth Conductor (#AEC) in electrified sections.

The use of OPGW as AEC in the #OHE mast / portal along the track will help in speedy execution for providing backbone for works like KAVACH, Automatic Block Signalling (#ABS), LTE-4G (high-speed wireless network for rail operations), Internet Protocol Multi-Protocol Label Switching (#IPMPLS-modern networking technology providing efficient communication backbone) etc. in Central Railway as its installation process is comparatively faster that laying of underground OFC.

Special Features of 96F OPGW

  • Central Railway has pioneered this new technology being introduced on Railways.
  • Two fibres each will be installed on either side of the railway tracks instead of 1 Fibre as in the case of OFC.
  • The Fibres will be enclosed inside Power lines making it more safe & secure.
  • This will enable Route diversity and ensure optimum capitalisation of OHE assets reducing the cost.
  • Since the Fibres are aerial maintenance is comparatively easier.
  • It has great earning potential as the technology in addition to being used internally can also be leased to other agencies thereby aiding generating of additional revenue.