Cabinet Approves Rs 24,634 Cr Railway Expansion Projects in Maharashtra, MP, Gujarat & Chhattisgarh

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved four major railway infrastructure projects worth Rs 24,634 crore under the Ministry of Railways. The projects include the construction of the Wardha–Bhusawal 3rd and 4th lines (314 km) in Maharashtra, Gondia–Dongargarh 4th line (84 km) across Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, Vadodara–Ratlam 3rd and 4th lines (259 km) in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, and the Itarsi–Bhopal–Bina 4th line (237 km) in Madhya Pradesh. Covering 18 districts across four states, these projects will expand the Indian Railways network by 894 km, boosting connectivity, capacity, and efficiency across key routes.

The approved multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to approx. 3,633 villages, which are having a population of about 85.84 lakh and two Aspirational Districts (Vidisha and Rajnandgaon).

The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. These multi-tracking proposals are poised to streamline operations and alleviate congestion. The projects are in line with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji’s Vision of a New India which will make people of the region “Atmanirbhar” by way of comprehensive development in the area which will enhance their employment/ self-employment opportunities.

The projects are planned on PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan with focus on enhancing multi-modal connectivity & logistic efficiency through integrated planning and stakeholder consultations. These projects will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods, and services.

Project section also provides rail connectivity to prominent destinations such as Sanchi, Satpura Tiger Reserve, Rock shelter of Bhimbetka, Hazara falls, Nawegaon National Park etc. attracting tourists from across the country.

This is an essential route for transportation of commodities such as coal, container, cement, fly ash, food grain, steel, etc. The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 78 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum). The Railways being environment friendly and energy efficient mode of transportation, will help both in achieving climate goals and minimizing logistics cost of the country, reduce oil import (28 Crore Litres) and lower CO2 emissions (139 Crore Kg) which is equivalent to plantation of Six Crore trees.