The Indian government approves three multitracking projects worth Rs 10,783 crore, aiming to ease congestion, improve reliability, and support regional development across five states, while also reducing environmental impact.
The Indian government has approved three railway multitracking projects worth Rs 10,783 crore, a move officials say will add capacity on busy freight and passenger routes across eastern and central India.
According to the Organiser report, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the Kharagpur-Jharsuguda fourth line, the Katni-Pendra Road fourth line and the Bilaspur-Uslapur-Pendra Road third line. Together, the schemes will add about 656 km to the network and are intended to ease congestion, improve reliability and give rail operators more flexibility on heavily used corridors. The Economic Times also reported that the projects are being taken forward under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the government’s infrastructure coordination programme.
The routes cut across 14 districts in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and are expected to improve access for about 4,790 villages, with a combined population of roughly 56 lakh. Business Standard previously reported that similar Cabinet-backed rail works have been framed around better connectivity to villages and stronger operational efficiency, underscoring how the government is tying rail expansion to regional access and service reliability.
The freight benefits are central to the case for the investment. The corridors carry coal, cement, iron and steel, and the government says the extra lines could support about 27 million tonnes a year of additional freight. That matters for India’s industrial supply chains, where rail is often cheaper and more efficient than road haulage for bulk goods, especially over long distances.
Officials say the projects should also ease travel to key religious, cultural and tourism sites including Taratarini Temple, Jagannath Temple near Jharsuguda, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and Amarkantak Temple. Beyond passenger convenience, stronger rail links can lift local economies by bringing more visitors to smaller towns and by helping farmers and small businesses reach larger markets.
The infrastructure push comes with an environmental case as well. The government estimates the projects will cut oil imports by about 12 crore litres and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 62 crore kg, figures it equates to the carbon absorption of around 2.48 crore trees. In that sense, the plan is being presented not just as a transport upgrade but as part of a broader effort to move more people and goods by rail and reduce pressure on roads.
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