Cabinet approves ₹23,437 Crore Railway projects to boost connectivity across six
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved three major railway infrastructure projects worth ₹23,437 crore aimed at enhancing capacity and connectivity across key routes.
The projects involve construction of third and fourth railway lines on the Nagda–Mathura, Guntakal–Wadi, and Burhwal–Sitapur sections. These routes are part of high-density corridors and are expected to significantly improve operational efficiency and reduce congestion on the network.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the expansion will strengthen connectivity between major cities and towns while improving service reliability.
According to an official statement, the projects align with the government’s PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, focusing on integrated infrastructure development, multimodal connectivity, and logistics efficiency.
Spanning 19 districts across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, the projects will add approximately 901 km to the existing Indian Railways network.
The enhanced network is expected to benefit around 4,161 villages with a combined population of nearly 83 lakh people. Improved connectivity will also facilitate easier access to key tourist destinations such as Mahakaleshwar, Ranthambore National Park, Kuno National Park, Keoladeo National Park, Mathura, Vrindavan, and Naimisharanya.
The capacity augmentation will boost freight movement on crucial routes transporting commodities like coal, cement, foodgrains, fertilisers, iron ore, and steel. The government estimates an additional freight capacity of 60 million tonnes per annum.
Highlighting environmental gains, Vaishnaw said the projects will help reduce logistics costs, cut oil imports by an estimated 37 crore litres, and lower carbon dioxide emissions by 185 crore kilograms—equivalent to planting around seven crore trees.
Officials noted that the projects are expected to generate employment opportunities and contribute to regional economic growth, in line with the vision of a self-reliant India.
