Cabinet approves major multi-tracking rail projects worth 20804 crore rupees

The Union Cabinet has cleared massive railway infrastructure upgrades to boost capacity across the country. On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved crucial multi-tracking initiatives and high-density corridor expansions designed to ease congestion and accelerate freight movement.

The Cabinet approved three multi-tracking railway projects worth 10,783 crore rupees to expand the network by approximately 656 kilometers across West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh by the 2029-30 fiscal year. These include the fourth line for Kharagpur-Jharsuguda, the fourth line for Katni-Pendra Road, and the third line for Bilaspur-Pendra Road. Additionally, five separate multi-tracking projects totaling 10,021 crore rupees were sanctioned covering 540 kilometers across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana. Altogether, these PM Gati Shakti initiatives will benefit 56 lakh people, connect 4,790 villages, and add 27 million tonnes of annual freight capacity.

High-Density Corridor Upgrades

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the government has also greenlit the four-tracking of seven high-density corridors which handle nearly 40 percent of Indian Railways traffic. These vital routes are the Delhi-Mumbai, Mumbai-Chennai, Chennai-Kolkata, Kolkata-Delhi, Delhi-Howrah, Howrah-Mumbai, and Delhi-Guwahati corridors.

Out of the total 11,000-kilometer high-density network, 2,000 kilometers of work is already complete, 5,000 kilometers are underway or approved, and Detailed Project Reports are being prepared for the remaining 4,000 kilometers. These widespread upgrades aim to significantly improve passenger train reliability, reduce travel bottlenecks, and accommodate growing freight demands seamlessly.

Cabinet approves major multi-tracking rail projects worth 20804 crore rupees

High-Density Corridor Upgrades

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