To counter heavy congestion on vital multi-modal corridors, the Union Cabinet has approved three major railway multi-tracking projects worth Rs 10,783 crore. Scheduled for completion by 2029–30, this infrastructure investment expands the existing rail grid by approximately 656 kilometers across 14 districts, easing gridlock on some of the nation’s busiest high-density routes.
Key Corridor Expansions Approved:
• Kharagpur – Jharsuguda (Bagdehi): 4th Line
• Katni – Pendra Road: 4th Line
• Bilaspur (Uslapur) – Pendra Road: 3rd Line
How You and Your Region Will Benefit
• Punctuality & Reduced Bottlenecks: By expanding key sections like the heavily utilized Howrah–Mumbai corridor, the added lines will clear paths for smoother scheduling, directly reducing transit delays for regular travelers.
• Connected Communities: The project directly improves rail proximity and regional mobility for roughly 4,790 villages, positively impacting a combined population of 56 lakh residents across five states.
• Easier Access to Heritage & Eco-Tourism: Travel accessibility is set to improve significantly for major regional destinations and sanctuaries, including the Bandhavgarh and Achanakmar Tiger Reserves, Amarkantak, Taratarini Temple, and the Shri Khetra Jagannath Temple area.
• Local Economic and Job Growth: Built under the PM-Gati Shakti framework, the projects streamline the supply chain for essential industrial commodities like coal, steel, and cement. This industrial fluidity helps generate localized employment and self-employment opportunities.
• Significant Environmental Payoffs: Shifting more freight (an added 27 MTPA) to an efficient railway network will curb logistics costs while cutting oil imports by an estimated 12 crore litres and shrinking CO2 emissions by 62 crore kg—the environmental equivalent of planting 2.48 crore trees.
