The Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Tuesday approved three major railway projects with a total cost of ₹9,072 crore. These projects will cover key areas in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand to improve connectivity and support regional economic growth.
The approved projects include:
Gondia–Jabalpur line doubling
Punarakh–Kiul 3rd and 4th line
Gamharia–Chandil 3rd and 4th line
These projects will cover eight districts across the four states and add about 307 km to the existing Indian Railways network. According to the Cabinet, the multi-tracking will connect around 5,407 villages with a total population of nearly 98 lakh people.
The Cabinet said the increased rail line capacity will improve mobility, make operations more efficient, and provide more reliable train services. It will also reduce congestion on busy routes and make train operations smoother.
The projects are expected to boost the movement of important goods such as coal, steel, iron ore, cement, and foodgrains. Freight traffic is projected to increase by 52 million tonnes per year.
In addition, the railway expansion will support India’s environmental goals. It is expected to reduce oil imports by 6 crore litres annually and lower carbon dioxide emissions by 30 crore kilograms each year. The reduction in emissions is equivalent to planting one crore trees.
Overall, these railway projects aim to strengthen India’s transportation network, promote economic development, support sustainable growth, and improve the efficiency of both passenger and freight services across these regions.