Cabinet approves 4 Railways projects worth ₹24,634 crore under PM-Gati Shakti Plan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led has approved four projects of the Ministry of Railways with a total cost of ₹24,634 crore. These projects include: Wardha - Bhusawal - 3rd & 4th line - 314 kms (Maharashtra); Gondia - Dongargarh - 4th line - 84 km (Maharashtra & Chhattisgarh); Vadodara - Ratlam - 3rd & 4th line - 259 km (Gujarat & Madhya Pradesh); Itarsi-Bhopal-Bina 4th line – 237 km (Madhya Pradesh).

The four projects covering 18 Districts across the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 894 km.

The approved multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to 3,633 villages, which have a population of about 85.84 lakh and two aspirational districts (Vidisha and Rajnandgaon).

"The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. These multi-tracking proposals are poised to streamline operations and alleviate congestion," a Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) statement said.

The projects are planned on the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, with a focus on enhancing multi-modal connectivity and logistic efficiency through integrated planning and stakeholder consultations. These projects are expected to provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services.

The project section also provides rail connectivity to prominent destinations such as Sanchi, Satpura Tiger Reserve, Rock shelter of Bhimbetka, Hazara falls, Nawegaon National Park, etc., which will help in attracting tourists from across the country.

This is also an essential route for the transportation of commodities such as coal, containers, cement, fly ash, food grain, and steel. "The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 78 MTPA (million tonnes per annum)."

The government believes that the Railways, being an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient mode of transportation, will help both in achieving climate goals and minimising logistics costs of the country, reduce oil import (28 crore litres) and lower CO2 emissions (139 crore kg), which is equivalent to the plantation of six crore trees.