Indian Railways Sanctions Rs 426 Cr Fourth Rail Line Between Baikunth & Urkura

Indian Railways has sanctioned the construction of a fourth railway line between Baikunth and Urkura under South East Central Railway at an estimated cost of Rs 426.01 crore. The 26.40 km project is part of the Bilaspur–Raipur–Nagpur main line, which also lies on the Mumbai–Howrah high-density corridor, one of the busiest rail routes in the country.

The Baikunth–Urkura section is currently operating at saturated capacity, making capacity augmentation critical. The new fourth line is expected to ease congestion, enable additional passenger and coaching services, reduce delays, and improve punctuality on this heavily utilised stretch.

The project will also significantly strengthen freight operations by enabling additional traffic of around 14.25 million tonnes per annum. This is projected to generate additional annual earnings of about Rs 61.70 crore for Indian Railways from the first year of commissioning.

With rapid growth in power plants, coal mining, steel, cement and allied industries in the region, the new line will ensure faster and more reliable movement of bulk commodities. Identified under the Energy, Cement and Mineral Corridor, the project reflects Indian Railways’ focus on strengthening infrastructure in high-traffic and economically strategic regions.