In a major infrastructure push, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved three multi-tracking railway projects worth ₹9,072 croreaimed at expanding and modernising the Indian Railways network.
The decision covers key routes across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, and is expected to significantly enhance rail capacity, ease congestion and improve operational efficiency across freight and passenger corridors.
Under the approved plan, the projects will collectively add about 307 kilometres of additional track to the national rail network, including:
- Doubling of the Gondia–Jabalpur section,
- Addition of the third and fourth lines between Punarakh and Kiul, and
- Addition of the third and fourth lines between Gamharia and Chandil.
These expansions will directly improve connectivity in eight districts, transforming mobility for approximately 5,407 villages with a combined population of nearly 98 lakh.
Aligned with the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the multitracking projects aim to streamline operations through integrated infrastructure planning and improved multimodal logistics. Officials said the capacity augmentation will reduce rail congestion, bolster freight movement and enhance service reliability for both goods and passengers.
In addition to transport improvements, the project’s broader impact is expected to drive regional economic growth, support smoother movement of key commodities and strengthen access to important local hubs and tourist sites.
Targeted for completion by 2030-31, the ambitious railway expansion marks a significant step toward bolstering India’s rail infrastructure and advancing connectivity across the country’s central and eastern regions.
