Nagpur is on the fast track to becoming a premier railway hub in Central India, powered by a massive infusion of ₹12,680 crore in infrastructure development. This colossal investment, currently in various stages of execution, aims to radically upgrade the city's rail network, significantly boosting its capacity to handle more trains and passengers.
Core Projects Driving the Transformation
The heart of this transformation lies in a series of strategic projects. The lion's share of the investment, a staggering ₹10,900 crore, is dedicated to multi-tracking crucial rail corridors that pass through Nagpur. This involves adding third and fourth lines to existing routes to increase sectional capacity and reduce congestion.
Specifically, third-line works are progressing on the Nagpur–Sewagram and Wardha–Badnera sections. Simultaneously, fourth-line works are underway on the Itarsi–Nagpur and Sewagram–Balharshah routes. Officials report that 323.65 km of third-line work is already complete, with 244.15 km ongoing. For fourth-line projects, 61.5 km has been finished, and 16.5 km is under execution.
Station Redevelopment and Premium Amenities
Passenger experience is getting a major facelift through comprehensive station redevelopment. The Nagpur railway station is undergoing a ₹487.77 crore revamp, which has crossed key structural milestones and entered the advanced finishing stage. Similarly, the Ajni station redevelopment, costing ₹297.79 crore, is steadily upgrading station buildings, residential facilities, and passenger amenities.
Furthermore, under the central government's Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 15 stations in the Nagpur division, including Godhani, are being upgraded at a cost of ₹372 crore, which also covers yard remodelling works.
Nagpur's growing stature in premium rail services is highlighted by the establishment of a Vande Bharat maintenance depot at Ajni, built with an investment of ₹372 crore. Currently, four Vande Bharat trains originate from Nagpur, two of which are maintained at this local depot.
Enhanced Safety and Operational Efficiency
To improve safety and allow more trains to run smoothly, automatic block signalling is being introduced on the Ajni–Badnera section at a cost of ₹250 crore. Out of the planned 170 km, work on 75 km has been completed, with the remaining stretch actively being worked on.
This expansion is part of a broader national drive by the Railways to double train-handling capacity in major cities by 2030. Nagpur has been selected alongside Mumbai and Pune in the Central Railway zone for this focused transformation. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has emphasized the expansion of coaching terminals to meet rapidly growing passenger demand and ease congestion.
Currently, the Nagpur Division handles 36 originating and terminating trains daily. Once these ongoing projects are completed, the division is expected to see a substantial increase in additional originating trains and enhanced coach capacity. Central Railway officials confirm this is part of a phased capacity enhancement drive covering 48 major cities over the next five years.
With integrated upgrades across tracks, stations, yards, and signalling systems, Nagpur is firmly set to emerge as a high-capacity originating terminal, promising more train options and smoother, safer rail operations for millions of passengers in the coming years.
