Central India on Track: New Itarsi-Nagpur Rail Line Greenlit

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a fourth railway line between Itarsi and Nagpur, aimed at enhancing rail connectivity and capacity in central India.

The project spans approximately 297 km, benefiting key districts such as Narmadapuram, Betul, and Pandhurna in Madhya Pradesh, and Nagpur in Maharashtra. It will also improve access to major Jyotirlinga pilgrimage sites—Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Srisailam, and Rameswaram—boosting tourism and cultural integration.

The 339-km rail section will include:

37 stations, 36 major bridges and 415 minor bridges, 2 road overbridges, 74 road underbridges, 4 tunnels, and 2 rail overbridges

This line will link with the Mumbai–Howrah High Density Network at Nagpur, helping decongest the Ghat section between Maramjhiri and Dharakhoh, a known bottleneck.

The project complements the ongoing third line project (Rs 2,525.73 crore) and may require land acquisition from 40 villages in Betul district, similar to previous phases.

Aligned with the National Infrastructure Pipeline and PM Gati Shakti initiative, the project is expected to significantly improve passenger and freight traffic, drive regional industrial development, and generate substantial employment opportunities during both construction and operation.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.