New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved two key railway multitracking projects aimed at decongesting existing lines and improving freight and passenger movement in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has cleared the construction of a third and fourth line between Ratlam and Nagda and a fourth line between Wardha and Balharshah. Together, the projects will add around 176 km to the Indian Railways network and are expected to be completed by 2029-30.
The combined cost of both projects is estimated at Rs 3,399 crore. The routes fall under the high-density corridors critical for transporting coal, cement, clinker, gypsum, fly ash, petroleum products, containers, and agricultural goods.
Connectivity and Capacity Expansion
The multitracking initiative spans four districts across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, covering nearly 784 villages with a population of around 19.74 lakh. The additional lines are expected to handle an incremental freight traffic of 18.40 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), addressing the growing demand for logistical efficiency in these corridors.
These projects are being implemented under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity, which aims to facilitate integrated infrastructure planning across the country.
Environmental and Economic Impact
According to estimates, the projects could help reduce oil imports by approximately 20 crore litres and cut carbon emissions by 99 crore kilograms.
This translates to an environmental benefit similar to planting four crore trees. Indian Railways, as an energy-efficient transport mode, stands to gain from the reduced logistics costs and improved fuel efficiency. Additionally, the construction phase is expected to generate around 74 lakh human-days of direct employment, offering a short-term boost to local job creation.
