The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved four multi-tracking railway projects worth Rs 24,634 crore. The projects will cover Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh, increasing Indian Railways’ network by 894 km.
The projects include Wardha-Bhusawal (314 km), Gondia-Dongargarh (84 km), Vadodara-Ratlam (259 km), and Itarsi-Bhopal-Bina (237 km). They will connect 3,633 villages with around 85.84 lakh people, including Vidisha and Rajnandgaon Aspirational Districts.
These new lines will improve passenger and freight movement, operational efficiency, and service reliability. They are part of the PM-Gati Shakti Master Plan, enhancing multi-modal connectivity and logistics efficiency through integrated planning.
The railway upgrades will also boost tourism by connecting Sanchi, Bhimbetka, Satpura Tiger Reserve, Hazara Falls, and Nawegaon National Park. The projects will increase freight capacity by 78 MTPA, reduce CO2 emissions by 139 crore kg, and save 28 crore litres of oil annually.
