Mega Rail Plan: Central India's ₹24,634 Cr Infrastructure Leap

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved four major railway infrastructure projects worth ₹24,634 crore, aimed at boosting connectivity, capacity, and operational efficiency across Central India.

The projects involve the construction of third and fourth railway lines along key high-density corridors:

Wardha–Bhusawal (314 km), Gondia–Dongargarh (84 km), Vadodara–Ratlam (259 km), Itarsi–Bhopal–Bina (237 km)

Together, these span 894 km across 18 districts in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh, impacting approximately 3,633 villages with a combined population of nearly 85.84 lakh. The projects also cover two Aspirational Districts — Vidisha and Rajnandgaon.

Aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the projects aim to:

Reduce congestion on heavily used routes, Improve freight and passenger movement, Strengthen multi-modal logistics connectivity, Support regional economic development

Additionally, enhanced rail infrastructure will facilitate better tourist access to heritage and eco-tourism sites such as Sanchi, Bhimbetka, and the Satpura Tiger Reserve.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.