Indian Railways is expanding 11000 kilometers of busy routes to four tracks
The Indian Railways is undertaking a massive infrastructure initiative to convert 11,000 kilometers of its most heavily burdened tracks into four-line networks to enhance connectivity and safety. According to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced on August 26 2026, these high-density routes carry approximately 41 percent of the total railway traffic while constituting only 16 percent of the national network. The project aims to significantly enhance connectivity across North-South and East-West corridors. Minister Vaishnaw detailed that the ambitious plan focuses on seven key high-density routes which are Delhi-Howrah, Howrah-Chennai, Chennai-Mumbai, Mumbai-Delhi, Delhi-Chennai, Mumbai-Howrah, and Delhi-Guwahati. The transition to quad-tracking involves adding two additional lines to existing double-track routes, allowing for the segregation of passenger and freight traffic to reduce congestion and increase system efficiency. Currently, approximately 2000 kilometers of the target network have already been quad-tracked, while 5000 kilometers are either approved or under construction. The remaining 4000 kilometers are currently undergoing Detailed Project Report and approval processes.