Will set up flood-proof signalling system at more locations: CR

Following the disruption on the Central Railway (CR) suburban services due to signal failure, the administration has decided to install a dual signalling system with digital axel counters (DAC) across the CST-Kalyan section. Prajakta Chavan Rane reports.

Following the disruption on the Central Railway (CR) suburban services due to signal failure, the administration has decided to install a dual signalling system with digital axel counters (DAC) across the CST-Kalyan section.

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The DAC mechanism supports signalling system even during rains. For interim relief, the CR will install around 200 DACs by October while over 1,200 are likely to be installed by March next year.

While DACs have already been installed in flood-prone low-lying areas such as Masjid Bunder, Sandhurst Road, Currey Road, Matunga, Sion, Kurla, Byculla, Kurla, Vidyavihar, Thane and Vikhroli, the track circuit on a large section of the CR main line continues to get affected during monsoon.

“Currently, we have 400 DACs. We are planning to increase the number to 600 by October and then to 1,800 by March 2014, such that the signaling system is not affected by flooding from the next monsoon,” said Mukesh Nigam, divisional railway manager (DRM), mumbai division.

Besides, the railway is also planning to install 1,600 new track circuits. The network currently has 3,600 track circuits of which some may be changed and the number of track circuits will remain more or less the same, officials said.

Water-logging at unusual spots had severely affected the suburban railway services over the last weekend for three consecutive days.

On Saturday, evening peak-hour services were affected due to flooding at Bhandup, Thane and Kanjurmarg while Sunday saw 21 services being cancelled after signal issues caused by water-logging.

On Monday, more than 150 trains were cancelled and many others delayed owing to three-hour-long water logging at Kalyan and Bhandup.