Modi Cabinet’s Big Decision, Approves 7 High-Density Railway Network Projects

Modi Cabinet approves seven high-density railway projects, including key routes linking Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bilaspur-Katni.

The expansion is intended to ease congestion and improve capacity on some of the country’s busiest routes.

Source : ANI

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Key points generated by AI, verified by newsroom

• Cabinet approved projects for modernising India's high-density rail network.
• Seven major corridors will expand to four-track routes nationwide.
• Key projects include Kharagpur-Jharsuguda, Arakkonam-Renigunta, Bilaspur-Katni lines.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved several key railway projects aimed at modernising the country’s high-density network. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government has cleared projects covering seven major corridors, with plans to expand capacity on routes carrying a significant share of rail traffic. The approved projects include key routes connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bilaspur-Katni. A fourth railway line between Kharagpur and Jharsuguda has also been approved, along with additional lines on the Arakkonam-Renigunta section.

Seven Corridors

According to Vaishnaw, the government is working to convert seven high-density railway corridors into four-track routes to meet rising passenger and freight demand.

The corridors include Delhi-Mumbai, Mumbai-Chennai, Chennai-Kolkata, Kolkata-Delhi, Delhi-Chennai, Mumbai-Kolkata and Delhi-Guwahati. Together, these routes form the core of the country’s high-density rail network.

The minister said around 2,000 km of work has already been completed, while projects covering another 5,000 km are either underway or have received approval. Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are currently being prepared for nearly 4,000 km of the remaining network.

Key Projects

The Cabinet has approved a fourth line between Kharagpur and Jharsuguda on the Mumbai-Howrah high-density route. The 367-km project will involve an estimated investment of Rs 6,528 crore.

The government has also cleared third and fourth lines between Arakkonam and Renigunta, covering 77 km at a cost of Rs 1,936 crore.

Vaishnaw said the seven high-density corridors account for around 40% of railway traffic across an 11,000-km network. The expansion is intended to ease congestion and improve capacity on some of the country’s busiest routes.

The minister also highlighted projects in Chhattisgarh, particularly the Bilaspur-Pendra and Pendra-Katni sections. While some parts already have three lines, others have two, prompting the plan to expand the entire Bilaspur-Katni section to four lines.

Vaishnaw said Chhattisgarh’s railway infrastructure is important not only for connectivity but also for the region’s economic development and the country’s energy security. He added that the government has approved several new projects in the state over the past 12 years.