A Feather in the glory of Indian railways

06 Jan 2023 CW Team

The 113 km long Obulavaripalli-Venkatachalam-Krishnapatnam Port railway line includes the 6.6 km long tunnel. The tunnel, a feat of engineering, has cut the distance for trains travelling from Krishnapatnam to Guntakal Division by 72 km. Additionally, it lessens traffic volume in the section between Obulavaripalli and Renigunta and Gudur.

On June 25, 2019, the longest electrified tunnel in the country began full-scale operation. The tunnel was described as "a feather in the glory of Indian railways" by former vice president M Venkaiah Naidu.

An estimated $437 billion was spent on the tunnel's construction. 14 Cross Passages and 44 Trolley Refuges are present.

Features of Longest Electrified Train Tunnel –
(a) The tunnel is ‘Horse Shoe’ shaped.
(b) New Australian Tunneling Method(NATM) was followed during construction.
(c) The LED lighting provided at a distance of 10 metres inside the tunnel.
(d) The height of the tunnel is 6.5 metres (rail level to roof).
(e) The height of contact wire is maintained at 5.2 metres.
(f) The thickness of the full length lining is 300 mm.

This tunnel improves the South Central Railway's freight capacity while enabling direct and practical connectivity between the South Coast and West Coast.

The Railways are developing a plan to become the largest "Green Railways" in the world with zero carbon emissions by 2030. A total of 4,100 TKM were electrified during the Financial Year 2022–23.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated last week that 20,000 route kilometres of rail lines were electrified in the first 70 years of Independence while introducing the nation's seventh Vande Bharat Express.

The longest electrified tunnel in Indian Railways has changed the way that freight is transported throughout the nation significantly. In 2019, the tunnel connecting the Cherlopalli and Rapuru stations of South Central Railways was dedicated to the country. The 113 km long Obulavaripalli-Venkatachalam-Krishnapatnam Port railway line includes the 6.6 km long tunnel. The tunnel, a feat of engineering, has cut the distance for trains travelling from Krishnapatnam to Guntakal Division by 72 km. Additionally, it lessens traffic volume in the section between Obulavaripalli and Renigunta and Gudur. On June 25, 2019, the longest electrified tunnel in the country began full-scale operation. The tunnel was described as a feather in the glory of Indian railways by former vice president M Venkaiah Naidu. An estimated $437 billion was spent on the tunnel's construction. 14 Cross Passages and 44 Trolley Refuges are present. Features of Longest Electrified Train Tunnel – (a) The tunnel is ‘Horse Shoe’ shaped. (b) New Australian Tunneling Method(NATM) was followed during construction. (c) The LED lighting provided at a distance of 10 metres inside the tunnel. (d) The height of the tunnel is 6.5 metres (rail level to roof). (e) The height of contact wire is maintained at 5.2 metres. (f) The thickness of the full length lining is 300 mm. This tunnel improves the South Central Railway's freight capacity while enabling direct and practical connectivity between the South Coast and West Coast. The Railways are developing a plan to become the largest Green Railways in the world with zero carbon emissions by 2030. A total of 4,100 TKM were electrified during the Financial Year 2022–23. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated last week that 20,000 route kilometres of rail lines were electrified in the first 70 years of Independence while introducing the nation's seventh Vande Bharat Express. See also: Railways releases energy-efficiency plan to reach 2030 net-zero goalIndia's first indigenous hydrogen train to be operational in 2023

Infrastructure Urban

06 Apr 2026

InsideFPV Delivers ₹10 Crore Kamikaze Drone Order Under MoD’s EPR Route

InsideFPV, a Surat-based drone technology manufacturer, has successfully executed a ₹10 crore defence contract to supply indigenous kamikaze drones under the Ministry of Defence’s Emergency Procurement Route (EPR). The company completed the delivery of hundreds of FPV kamikaze drone platforms within a rapid two-month timeframe, highlighting its ability to meet urgent military procurement timelines.The supply orders were fulfilled under the emergency procurement mechanism, which is aimed at fast-tracking acquisitions for immediate operational needs. InsideFPV’s quick execution reflects it..

Infrastructure Energy

06 Apr 2026

Vedanta Resources Secures Fitch Upgrade to ‘BB-’, Best Rating Since 2015

Vedanta Resources Limited (VRL), a global player in metals, oil & gas, critical minerals, power and technology, has received a credit rating upgrade from Fitch Ratings, marking its strongest bond rating in over a decade.Fitch has raised Vedanta Resources’ Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘BB-’ from ‘B+’, while maintaining a Stable Outlook. The agency also upgraded VRL’s senior unsecured rating, along with the ratings of US dollar-denominated bonds issued by Vedanta Resources Finance II Plc and guaranteed by VRL, to ‘BB-’.The upgrade represents Vedan..

Real Estate

06 Apr 2026

NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter Launched

The NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter was recently launched at Excelerate 2026 in Mumbai, marking a key step towards integrating emerging real estate leaders from the National Capital Region with the national platform. The initiative aims to promote sustainable and responsible urban development through collaboration and knowledge exchange.The event brought together young developers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across NCR, including Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bhiwadi, and Meerut. Discussions focused on urban development, finance, sustainability, innovation, and policy, emphasisi..