Union Cabinet Approves ₹20,804 Crore Railway Multi-Tracking Projects Across 9 States
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved eight major railway multi-tracking projects with a combined estimated investment of ₹20,804 crore. The ambitious infrastructure expansion will add approximately 1,196 kilometres to the Indian Railways network, spanning 31 districts across nine states including West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana.
The approved projects are structured into two regional clusters. The first set includes five multi-tracking projects across southern states costing ₹10,021 crore to add 540 km of line capacity on key corridors such as Whitefield-Bangarapet, Hosur-Omalur, and Arakkonam-Renigunta. The second set comprises three major projects in eastern and central India costing ₹10,783 crore, adding 656 km along heavy-density freight routes like Kharagpur-Jharsuguda and Katni-Pendra Road.
According to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the multi-tracking initiative is designed under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to relieve severe network congestion and boost freight-handling efficiency. Once operational by 2029–30, the expanded lines will significantly facilitate the movement of essential commodities like coal, cement, iron, and steel while connecting nearly 7,000 villages and serving millions of commuters.
