MAHARASHTRA (Metro Rail News): Indian Railways has approved a ₹493 crore new railway line between Mukutban and Gadchandur in Maharashtra. The 38.21-km line will create a shorter rail connection between two important industrial and mining areas.
The new line will also provide an alternative route for freight trains and help reduce pressure on busy railway sections. The line will connect Mukutban in Yavatmal district with Gadchandur in Chandrapur district under South Central Railway. It will support the transport of coal, cement and other industrial goods while also improving passenger connectivity in the region.
New railway line to connect industrial clusters
Mukutban and Gadchandur are located close to several major industrial and mining facilities. The area has cement plants, coal mines operated by Western Coalfields Ltd. and limestone mines. The new line is expected to provide a more direct rail connection to these clusters. This could reduce the distance and time needed to move freight to major markets and industrial centres.
The project is expected to handle around 6.08 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of freight once it becomes operational. The expected freight mix includes:
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- Coal and coke
- Cement
- Sponge iron
- Iron and steel
- Metal scrap
- Fertilisers
- Foodgrains
The corridor is also expected to support two MEMU services in each direction every day, which will improve passenger connectivity between the two districts.
Shorter route for freight movement
One of the key benefits of the project is its potential to provide an alternative to the existing Wardha-Manikgarh section. Freight trains currently using busy routes can face capacity constraints, particularly as industrial traffic continues to grow.
The Mukutban-Gadchandur line would provide another route for moving goods and could help reduce dependence on heavily used sections. The shorter route is also expected to lower travel distances and transportation time for some freight flows, which could reduce logistics costs.
Direct connection to Majri-Nanded route
The new railway line will create a direct connection between the coal and cement-producing region and the Majri-Nanded railway route. This could reduce the distance for freight trains carrying coal, cement and RMSP traffic to destinations such as:
- Jalna
- Parbhani
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
- Other parts of Maharashtra
- Destinations in Karnataka
The new connection could therefore provide industries in the region with an additional route to reach markets beyond the existing network.
Could reduce pressure on Balharshah-Nagpur route
The project also has a wider network role. It is expected to reduce reliance on the Balharshah-Nagpur High-Density Network (HDN) route, which carries substantial passenger and freight traffic.
By adding another route, the new line can give Indian Railways more flexibility in handling freight flows. It could also help improve the use of capacity on existing sections by shifting some traffic to the new corridor.
Boost for less-connected areas
The new railway line will improve rail connectivity in parts of Yavatmal and Chandrapur that currently have limited rail services. It could help transport essential goods and make rail travel more accessible for local passengers and industries.
However, the project’s benefits will depend on how quickly construction and commissioning begin. The development of freight-loading facilities near industrial areas will also play an important role.