Over Rs 24,600,00,00,000 railway expansion covering four states approved amid Odisha rail boom

In a major infrastructure push, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved four multi-tracking railway projects spanning 18 districts across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh.

The combined investment, estimated at Rs 24,634 crore, will expand the Indian Railways network by 894 kilometres, significantly improving connectivity and freight movement across central and western India.

894-Km Expansion Under PM-Gati Shakti Plan

The projects are part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, aimed at enhancing multi-modal logistics efficiency through better coordination between transport modes. The approved routes include:

• Wardha–Bhusawal (3rd & 4th line, 314 km) in Maharashtra,
• Gondia–Dongargarh (4th line, 84 km) across Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh,
• Vadodara–Ratlam (3rd & 4th line, 259 km) in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, and
• Itarsi–Bhopal–Bina (4th line, 237 km) in Madhya Pradesh.

Together, these projects will connect 3,633 villages with a population of nearly 8.58 million and improve access to two Aspirational Districts of Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh and Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh.

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Boost to Freight, Connectivity, and Tourism

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressing the media after the Cabinet meeting, said the move is part of a broader plan to strengthen high-traffic corridors.

Officials noted that the new tracks will play a key role in moving coal, steel, cement, containers, and food grains, easing pressure on existing lines and improving punctuality for passenger trains. The increased capacity is projected to handle an additional 78 million tonnes of freight annually, lowering logistics costs and enhancing supply chain efficiency.

Rs 80,000 Crore Odisha Train Projects

Earlier in July, Union Minister of State for Railways, V Somanna, announced that Odisha is currently witnessing the implementation of railway initiatives valued at over Rs 80,000 crore.

In the Union Budget for 2025–26, the state received an allocation of Rs 10,599 crore. As part of infrastructure upgrades, 59 railway stations across Odisha are being redeveloped with an investment of Rs 2,379 crore.

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Additionally, over the past year, the government has approved more than Rs 25,000 crore for eight new railway ventures, including multitrack expansions and flyover constructions.