NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on February 24 approved three major multitracking projects of the Ministry of Railways at a combined estimated cost of ₹9,072 crore. The projects will add approximately 307 km to Indian Railways’ existing network across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, with completion targeted by 2030-31.
Three Projects, Eight Districts
The approved projects are: the Gondia–Jabalpur doubling; the Punarakh–Kiul 3rd and 4th line; and the Gamharia–Chandil 3rd and 4th line. Together they span eight districts across the four states, serving high-density freight and passenger corridors managed by South East Central Railway (SECR), East Central Railway (ECR), and South Eastern Railway (SER).
The Gondia–Jabalpur doubling will provide an alternative shorter route from Varanasi and Prayagraj to Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. The project also includes a dedicated provision of ₹450 crore for wildlife underpasses and fencing. The Punarakh–Kiul 3rd and 4th line will improve connectivity of northeastern and eastern states with north India, serving NTPC power plants at Barh, Barauni, and Kanti, along with the cement industry in Daniyawan and Warsaliganj. The Gamharia–Chandil 3rd and 4th line will support coal and iron ore transportation to steel plants at Bokaro, Durgapur, and Burnpur, besides catering to mines, power plants, and Special Economic Zones in the region.
Freight Capacity and Logistics Impact
The three projects are critical for the movement of bulk commodities including coal, steel, iron ore, cement, fly ash, fertilizers, limestone, manganese, dolomite, foodgrains, and petroleum products. Once operational, the additional line capacity is expected to generate incremental freight traffic of 52 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum). The government also estimates the shift from road to rail will reduce oil imports by 6 crore litres and cut CO₂ emissions by 30 crore kg — equivalent to the carbon sequestration of one crore trees.
The three corridors are aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which mandates integrated planning for multi-modal connectivity and logistics efficiency.
Connectivity for 98 Lakh People
Beyond freight, the multitracking projects will improve rail access for approximately 5,407 villages, benefiting a population of around 98 lakh. The enhanced capacity is expected to improve punctuality and service reliability on these routes. Tourist destinations along the corridors — including Kanha National Park, Pench National Park, Chandil Dam, Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, and Dhuandhar waterfall — will also gain improved connectivity.
Outlook
The three projects are scheduled for completion by 2030-31. With these approvals, Indian Railways continues to press ahead on its capacity augmentation agenda, which has seen sustained CCEA support for multitracking, new lines, and gauge conversion projects under the Union Budget’s ₹2,78,030 crore railway allocation for 2025-26. The operational rollout will be closely watched for its impact on freight throughput on some of the network’s most congested corridors.
Explore how AI-integrated systems are improving comfort, connectivity, and accessibility for passengers across metro and rail networks at the 6th edition of InnoMetro, India’s leading expo for the Metro & Railway industry, which is going to be held on 21-22 May 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
Register Now: https://innometro.com/participate-now?utm_source=metrorailnews&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=innometro_2026_news
