Union Cabinet Greenlights Major Railway Expansion Projects Worth Rs 9,072 Crore
The Union cabinet has given its formal approval to three significant railway multitracking projects with a combined investment of Rs 9,072 crore. These ambitious initiatives are strategically designed to expand network capacity and alleviate chronic congestion across the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, according to an official government statement.
Project Details and Implementation Timeline
The approved projects include the Gondia–Jabalpur doubling project, the Punarakh–Kiul third and fourth line, and the Gamharia–Chandil third and fourth line. Collectively, these infrastructure enhancements will add approximately 307 kilometers to the existing Indian Railways network. The government has set a target completion date of 2030-31 for all three projects.
The cabinet emphasized that these projects will span eight districts, significantly improving rail connectivity for around 5,407 villages with a combined population of nearly 98 lakh people. This expansion is expected to directly benefit millions of residents through enhanced mobility and access.
Strategic Objectives and Operational Benefits
The primary objective of this multitracking expansion is to substantially enhance line capacity, which will lead to improved operational efficiency and stronger service reliability by reducing congestion on critical freight and passenger routes. These projects have been meticulously planned under the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which emphasizes integrated infrastructure planning and multimodal logistics connectivity.
"The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways," the cabinet statement declared. It further clarified that these projects are intended to streamline railway operations while actively supporting regional economic development across the four states.
Tourism and Economic Impact
According to government projections, the upgraded railway corridors will also improve rail access to several prominent tourist destinations. These include the Kachnar Shiv Temple in Jabalpur, Kanha and Pench national parks, Dhuandhar waterfall, Bargi Dam, Chandil Dam, and Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, among other attractions.
The routes in question serve as crucial freight corridors for transporting essential commodities such as coal, steel, iron ore, cement, fertilizers, limestone, foodgrains, and petroleum products. The capacity augmentation is expected to enable additional freight movement of about 52 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), providing a substantial boost to regional and national logistics.
Environmental and Employment Benefits
The government highlighted that this rail expansion will support both climate and logistics goals by reducing dependence on road transport. The projects are estimated to save approximately 6 crore litres of oil annually while lowering carbon emissions by nearly 30 crore kilograms. This environmental benefit is equivalent to planting around one crore trees, contributing significantly to India's sustainability objectives.
The cabinet also noted that improved connectivity and enhanced logistics efficiency are expected to generate numerous employment and self-employment opportunities. This development aligns with the broader vision of regional development and supports the national goal of building a self-reliant India through robust infrastructure investment.
