The Indian federal cabinet recently officially approved three major railway capacity expansion projects with a total investment of 90.2 billion rupees. This strategic initiative will inject strong momentum into the Indian railway IR network, adding 307 kilometers of rail lines in key areas such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. It is expected to be fully completed in the 2030-31 fiscal year.

The core project includes:

Maharashtra to Madhya Pradesh: dual track of the Gondia to Jabalpur railway line;

Bihar: Advancing the track quadrupling project of the Punarak Kil Punarak Kil line;

Jharkhand State: Complete the four fold track laying of the Ganharia Chandil line from Ganharia to Chandil.

The Indian Railway Corporation emphasizes that these projects are not only upgrades to infrastructure, but also a link between culture and economy.

In terms of passenger transportation, the new route will significantly improve the accessibility to famous pilgrimage and tourist destinations such as Jabalpur Kashgar Shif Temple, Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, and Darma Wildlife Reserve in Jharkhand.

In terms of freight transportation, these trunk lines will become the main arteries for transporting bulk goods such as coal, steel, iron ore, cement, and fertilizers. With the significant increase in transportation capacity, it is expected that the annual freight volume will increase by 52 million tons, effectively reducing logistics costs. Through the optimization of the circular rail transportation mode, the dependence on oil imports and carbon dioxide emissions will be significantly reduced, contributing to green and sustainable development.Editor/Cheng Liting