Cabinet Clears ₹18,509 Crore Railway Multitracking for Four States

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved three major multitracking railway projects with a combined investment of approximately ₹18,509 crore. The projects include the addition of third and fourth lines on the Kasara–Manmad, Delhi–Ambala, and Ballari–Hosapete routes. Together, these works will add nearly 389 kilometres to the existing network of Indian Railways and are targeted for completion by 2030–31.

Spanning 12 districts across Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra and Karnataka, the projects aim to significantly enhance capacity and operational efficiency on some of the country’s busiest rail corridors. The additional lines are expected to reduce congestion, improve punctuality and boost reliability for both passenger and freight services. Officials noted that the move will address long-standing bottlenecks that have constrained traffic growth on these routes.

The government stated that the projects are aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which promotes integrated planning and multimodal connectivity. By strengthening logistics networks and improving coordination among stakeholders, the plan seeks to enhance economic productivity. Nearly 3,902 villages are expected to benefit from improved connectivity, positively impacting an estimated population of around 97 lakh people.

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The upgraded routes will also improve access to several key tourist destinations. These include the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra and Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, along with other heritage and ecological attractions such as Ballari Fort and the Tungabhadra Dam region. Enhanced rail infrastructure is likely to facilitate greater tourist inflow and regional economic development.

In addition to passenger benefits, the routes serve as critical freight corridors for coal, steel, iron ore, cement, fertilisers, petroleum products and foodgrains. The expansion is projected to enable additional freight movement of around 96 million tonnes per annum. During construction, the projects are expected to generate approximately 265 lakh human-days of employment. By shifting freight traffic from road to rail, the government estimates savings of about 22 crore litres of oil and a reduction of nearly 111 crore kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to long-term environmental sustainability.

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