INFRASTRUCTURE
Rs 9,072-crore, rail multi-tracking projects get Cabinet’s nod to boost freight traffic
- IBJ Bureau
- Feb 25, 2026
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has cleared three major railway multi-tracking projects worth Rs 9,072 crore. These projects are aimed at easing congestion, boosting freight capacity and strengthening connectivity across key mineral and industrial corridors, spanning Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.
The projects – Gondia–Jabalpur doubling, third and fourth lines between Punarakh and Kiul and between Gamharia and Chandil – will add about 307 km to the Indian Railways’ network and are targeted for completion by 2030-31, according to an official statement.
Designed under the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the upgrades are expected to unclog some of the busiest freight arteries, while improving reliability of passenger services. Once completed, the expanded capacity is expected to enhance connectivity for nearly 5,407 villages with a combined population of about 98 lakh, while enabling smoother movement of both goods and travellers.
The routes are strategically important for transporting bulk commodities, such as coal, steel, cement, fertilisers and foodgrains. Augmentation of capacity is projected to unlock additional freight traffic of around 52 mt annually, easing logistics bottlenecks and lowering transport costs.
Executives of Indian Railways add that the shift of cargo to rail, considered more energy-efficient than road, could also cut oil imports by roughly 6 crore litres and reduce carbon emission by nearly 30 crore kg, equivalent to planting one crore trees.
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