New Delhi, October 7: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the approval of four major railway projects that will span 894 km across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh, boosting both passenger and freight movement. These projects aim to improve key corridors and are expected to significantly enhance operational efficiency.

The approved projects include:

1. Wardha-Bhusawal (314 km, Rs 9,197 crore) – Upgrading to 3rd & 4th lines, connecting six states.
2. Gondia-Dongargarh (84 km, Rs 2,223 crore) – Adding a 4th line, enhancing connectivity between Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
3. Vadodara-Ratlam (259 km) – Upgrading to 3rd & 4th lines in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
4. Itarsi-Bhopal-Bina (237 km) – Adding a 4th line in Madhya Pradesh.

These upgrades will connect 3,633 villages, benefiting 85.84 lakh people, and improve mobility, thereby reducing congestion and enhancing service reliability. The projects also align with the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, promoting multimodal connectivity and boosting regional development.

The expansion is set to increase freight capacity by 78 MTPA, reduce CO2 emissions by 139 crore kg, and save 28 crore litres of oil. The environmentally friendly rail transport will further support climate goals and reduce logistics costs.

Tags: prameyanews