Cabinet Clears ₹9,072 Crore Rail Expansion to Add 307 km Across 4 States

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved three major railway infrastructure projects worth ₹9,072 crore to strengthen connectivity across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. The projects — Gondia–Jabalpur doubling, Punarakh–Kiul 3rd and 4th line, and Gamharia–Chandil 3rd and 4th line — will expand the Indian Railways network by approximately 307 km, covering eight districts and benefiting around 98 lakh people across 5,407 villages.

The multi-tracking projects aim to ease congestion, improve operational efficiency, and enhance service reliability. The expanded capacity will support the transportation of critical commodities such as coal, steel, iron ore, cement, and foodgrains, adding an estimated 52 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of freight capacity. The government said the projects will also reduce oil imports by 6 crore litres annually and cut CO₂ emissions by 30 crore kilograms — equivalent to planting one crore trees — supporting India’s sustainability goals.

Among the three, the 231-km Gondia–Jabalpur doubling project is the largest, connecting key high-density routes and improving access to major pilgrimage and tourist destinations, including Kanha National Park, Pench Tiger Reserve, and Dhuandhar Falls. The project includes ₹450 crore for wildlife underpasses and fencing, will generate 78 lakh human-days of employment, and is expected to deliver annual logistical savings of ₹350 crore while adding 7.6 MTPA of freight capacity.