Politics · India Bureau
Cabinet approves ₹20,804 crore railway expansion across nine states
Eight multitracking projects targeting completion by 2029-30 will add nearly 1,200 km to India's rail network and boost freight capacity. The infrastructure push aims to enhance connectivity across multiple regions.
LSN India ·
India's Union Cabinet has greenlit eight railway multitracking projects valued at ₹20,804 crore, marking a significant investment in expanding the country's rail infrastructure. The projects, spread across nine states, are expected to add approximately 1,196 km to the existing railway network.
Multitracking involves laying additional parallel rail lines on existing railway corridors, a measure aimed at reducing congestion and improving operational efficiency. The eight projects will enhance the freight-carrying capacity of key rail routes while simultaneously improving passenger connectivity in the regions they serve.
The Cabinet has set a completion timeline of 2029-30 for these infrastructure projects, indicating a phased implementation approach. The multitracking initiatives are expected to address capacity constraints on heavily trafficked routes and support India's broader objectives of modernizing rail transport.
These projects form part of the government's wider railway modernization agenda, which seeks to upgrade infrastructure and boost economic connectivity. The expansion will support both freight movement for industrial and agricultural goods as well as passenger services in the identified regions.