Indian Railways Gets ₹10,783 Crore Boost for 656 Km Multitracking Projects

The Union Cabinet has approved three major railway multitracking projects with a combined estimated investment of ₹10,783 crore, in a major push to expand railway capacity, improve connectivity and strengthen freight movement across eastern and central India.

The projects, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will add approximately 656 km of new railway lines to the Indian Railways network. The projects are targeted for completion by 2029-30.

The multitracking works will cover 14 districts across West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, creating additional capacity on important passenger and freight routes.

Three Major Railway Projects

The approved projects include the Kharagpur–Jharsuguda (Bagdehi) fourth line, the Katni–Pendra Road fourth line, and the Bilaspur (Uslapur)–Pendra Road third line.

These projects are expected to address capacity constraints on some of the country’s important railway routes while improving operational efficiency and reliability.

The additional tracks will allow Indian Railways to operate more trains without depending heavily on existing lines. This is expected to reduce congestion, improve train movement and provide greater flexibility for both passenger and freight services.

The projects will also strengthen railway connectivity in regions that are important for India’s industrial and mineral economy.

Major Boost for Freight Transportation

The new railway infrastructure will play a particularly important role in freight transportation. The routes covered by the projects are considered important freight corridors for the movement of coal, cement, iron and steel, among other commodities.

With additional tracks becoming available, Indian Railways is expected to handle an additional 27 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of freight traffic.

The increased capacity will be significant for industries dependent on bulk transportation. Railways provide an efficient means of transporting large quantities of raw materials and finished products over long distances.

Additional railway capacity can also help reduce pressure on road transportation and improve the overall efficiency of India’s logistics network.

Connectivity to Thousands of Villages

The projects are expected to improve connectivity to approximately 4,790 villages, benefiting a population of around 56 lakh people.

For communities located along the railway routes, improved infrastructure can provide better access to major cities, markets, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and employment opportunities.

The expansion will also strengthen connections between important urban and industrial centres, supporting regional economic activity.

The government’s emphasis on railway infrastructure is aimed not only at increasing train capacity but also at creating stronger links between production centres, markets, ports and consumption hubs.

Support for Tourism

The projects are also expected to improve access to several important tourism and religious destinations.

The areas connected through the railway expansion include destinations such as Taratarini Temple, Shri Khetra Jagannath Temple near Jharsuguda, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Virateshwar Temple, Amarkantak Temple, Jwaleshwar Dham, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, Khutaghat Dam, Malhar Archaeological Site and Ratanpur Mahamaya Temple.

Improved railway connectivity can make these destinations more accessible to tourists and pilgrims while supporting local businesses and tourism-related employment.

The expansion is therefore expected to have significance beyond railway operations, contributing to regional development and the tourism economy.

Aligned With PM Gati Shakti

The multitracking projects will be implemented in line with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which focuses on integrated infrastructure development and multimodal connectivity.

Railway expansion under the programme is intended to improve the movement of people and goods while strengthening connections between different modes of transport.

Better railway capacity can also help improve logistics efficiency by providing faster and more reliable transportation links between industrial clusters, mining regions, production centres and markets.

The projects are expected to contribute to a more integrated transportation network and support the government’s broader objective of improving India’s logistics ecosystem.

Environmental Benefits

The expansion of railway infrastructure is also expected to deliver significant environmental benefits.

According to the project assessment, the additional rail capacity is expected to help reduce oil imports by approximately 12 crore litres.

The projects are also estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 62 crore kg.

The environmental benefit is equivalent to the impact of planting approximately 2.48 crore trees, according to the government assessment.

The shift of more freight traffic towards rail can reduce dependence on road transportation and help lower fuel consumption and emissions associated with long-distance freight movement.

Railways, particularly electrified railway routes, provide an important means of supporting India’s efforts to reduce the carbon intensity of its transportation sector.

Improving Passenger Train Operations

While the projects are expected to substantially benefit freight movement, the additional railway lines can also create more operating flexibility for passenger services.

One of the key challenges on busy railway routes is the competition for track capacity between passenger and freight trains. Multitracking allows more trains to be operated simultaneously and provides greater flexibility in scheduling.

As freight trains are accommodated more efficiently, passenger services can also benefit from improved availability of train paths.

The expansion can therefore contribute to better punctuality, more efficient timetabling and improved utilisation of railway infrastructure.

Strengthening India’s Railway Network

The approval of the three projects comes as Indian Railways continues to expand and modernise its network through new lines, doubling, electrification, signalling upgrades and multitracking.

The addition of approximately 656 km of railway lines represents a significant expansion of capacity across five states.

The projects will connect important economic, industrial, religious and tourism destinations while strengthening routes that carry large volumes of freight.

For the Indian economy, efficient transportation infrastructure is critical to reducing logistics costs and improving the movement of goods.

The new railway lines are expected to support this objective by providing additional capacity on strategically important routes.

Completion Target of 2029-30

The government has set 2029-30 as the targeted completion period for the three projects.

Once completed, the projects are expected to provide long-term capacity enhancement for Indian Railways while supporting increased passenger and freight traffic.

The ₹10,783 crore investment reflects the government’s continued focus on railway infrastructure as a key component of India’s economic and regional development strategy.

With new tracks, stronger freight connectivity, improved access to villages and tourist destinations, and projected fuel and emissions savings, the three projects are expected to deliver benefits across transportation, industry, logistics, tourism and the environment.

The latest Cabinet approval therefore represents another major step in expanding India’s railway network and preparing it for rising demand in both passenger and freight transportation.