New Delhi
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved three railway multi-tracking projects worth Rs 10,783 crore across five states, adding about 656 km to the Indian Railways network. The projects will cover 14 districts in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
The projects are aimed at increasing railway capacity, reducing congestion and improving the efficiency of train operations. The expanded network is expected to strengthen connectivity across important industrial and freight corridors in eastern and central India.
The government expects the projects to support an additional 27 million tonnes of freight movement annually. Better rail capacity is also expected to improve the movement of essential commodities and industrial goods while making logistics more efficient.
The projects are targeted for completion by 2029-30. Their implementation is expected to generate employment during construction and create wider economic benefits by improving access to markets, industries and key production centres.
The multi-tracking works are part of the Centre’s broader effort to expand railway infrastructure and improve the capacity of existing routes. By adding additional tracks on busy sections, Indian Railways aims to handle growing passenger and freight demand while improving operational reliability.
The Cabinet decision comes as the government continues to accelerate railway infrastructure expansion across different parts of the country. The latest projects are expected to provide stronger rail connectivity and support economic activity across the five states.