Cabinet Clears Rs 9,072 Crore Rail Expansion Projects

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved three major railway expansion works worth about Rs. 9,072 crore, giving a strong push to capacity building across key routes.

The decision covers the Gondia–Jabalpur Doubling project, the Punarakh–Kiul 3rd and 4th line, and the Gamharia–Chandil 3rd and 4th line. With this move, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has set the stage for faster and more reliable rail operations across four states.

The three projects will span eight districts in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. Together, they will add nearly 307 kilometers to the existing Indian Railways network. The multi-tracking works are expected to improve connectivity to around 5,407 villages, benefiting a population of nearly 98 lakh people.

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Officials said the added line capacity will ease congestion on busy corridors. This will improve train movement, increase operational efficiency, and enhance service reliability. Both passenger and freight trains are expected to see smoother operations once the projects are completed.

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The projects have been planned under the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan. The focus remains on integrated planning, stronger multi-modal connectivity, and better logistics efficiency through close coordination among stakeholders.

With these approvals, Indian Railways aims to streamline operations and support economic growth by ensuring seamless movement of people, goods, and services across key industrial and rural regions.