India Green‑Lights  Rail Multiproject

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) of India, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved four major multi‑tracking projects under the Ministry of Railways with a combined investment of ₹24,634 crore (~US$3 billion), to be carried out across the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh. These projects will add approximately 894 route‑kilometres to the existing rail network by the target completion year of 2030‑31, spanning 18 districts and aiming to connect or improve service for about 3,633 villages with a collective population of roughly 8.6 million.

The four corridors covered include the 314 km third and fourth line between Wardha‑Bhusawal in Maharashtra; an 84 km fourth line between Gondia‑Dongargarh (Maharashtra & Chhattisgarh); the 259 km third and fourth line between Vadodara‑Ratlam (Gujarat & Madhya Pradesh); and the 237 km fourth line between Itarsi‑Bhopal‑Bina (Madhya Pradesh). The capacity enhancement is projected to enable an additional 78 million tonnes of freight per annum, relieving pressure on high‑density corridors, improving logistics efficiency for commodities such as coal, cement, steel, containers and food‑grains, and reducing congestion on key passenger and freight routes.

Beyond pure network expansion, the investment aligns with the government’s PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan—a multi‑modal connectivity strategy—to foster integrated infrastructure development, reduce logistics costs, and enhance regional development. The multitracking initiative will also allow smoother and faster passenger services, facilitate tourism access to heritage and nature destinations in the region, and deliver environmental benefits by shifting more traffic to energy‑efficient rail transport. According to official estimates, the scheme could reduce oil imports by about 28 crore litres and cut CO₂ emissions by roughly 139 crore kg, equivalent to planting around six crore trees.