Multi‑Track Railway Expansion Set to Add 656 km and Serve 4,790 Villages

The Economic Affairs Ministry’s multi‑track railway portfolio received cabinet endorsement on September 9, clearing three projects that together cost roughly ₹10,783 crore. The schemes will weave new rail arteries through West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, targeting the uplift of 4,790 villages with a combined population of around 5.6 million.

The projects encompass: • Khardaha‑Jharasuguda (Bagdehi) fourth line • Katni‑Pendra Road fourth line • Bilaspur‑Pendra Road third line All are expected to be operational by the fiscal year 2029‑30.

By converting single‑track sections into multi‑track corridors, the capacity for both passenger and freight trains will rise sharply, alleviating bottlenecks and boosting service reliability. The increased rail capacity will also catalyse tourism to historic sites such as the Shri Kshetra Jagannath temple near Jharasuguda, Amarkantak, and the Malhar archaeological zone, feeding local economies and creating jobs.

From a logistics perspective, the new routes will serve as critical arteries for moving bulk commodities, delivering an extra 27 MT of freight per annum. The shift toward rail is projected to cut oil imports by about 120 million litres and curtail CO₂ emissions by approximately 620 million kilograms, delivering climate benefits comparable to planting 24.8 million saplings.