Centre clears Rs 3399 cr railway upgrade in MP and Maharashtra
In a move to enhance transportation infrastructure, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved two key railway multitracking projects in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, with a combined outlay of ₹3,399 crore.
The approved projects include the construction of third and fourth lines between Ratlam and Nagda, and a fourth line between Wardha and Balharshah. The upgrades will expand the Indian Railways network by approximately 176 kilometres, covering four districts across the two states. Completion is slated for the financial year 2029–30. According to the CCEA, the decision is a part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, aimed at integrated and multi-modal connectivity across India. These routes are critical for transporting coal, cement, gypsum, fly ash, agricultural goods, and petroleum products. The upgraded capacity is expected to handle an additional 18.40 million tonnes of freight annually.
Officials estimate that the construction phase will create around 74 lakh human-days of direct employment. The enhanced railway capacity is also expected to significantly reduce logistics costs, oil imports, and carbon emissions—cutting 99 crore kilograms of CO₂, equivalent to the effect of planting four crore trees. The projects will also play a pivotal role in improving service reliability and alleviating congestion across critical freight corridors. The government highlighted that the modernisation will not only facilitate smoother movement of goods and passengers but also strengthen the supply chain network, thereby accelerating economic growth.
By integrating long-term infrastructure planning with environmental goals, the Centre’s greenlighting of these multitracking proposals underscores its push for sustainable development and transport efficiency.
