The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved two railway multitracking projects in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh: the Ratlam-Nagda 3rd and 4th line and the Wardha-Balharshah 4th line. With an estimated cost of Rs 3,399 crore and a completion target of 2029-30, the projects aim to enhance line capacity and connectivity across 176 km of railway network, benefiting approximately 784 villages with a population of 19.74 lakh. The projects are expected to augment freight traffic capacity by 18.40 MTPA, reduce oil imports by 20 Crore Litres, lower CO2 emissions by 99.2 Crore Kg, and generate 74 lakh humandays of direct employment during construction. These initiatives, aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, will improve travel convenience, reduce logistics costs, and support sustainable and efficient rail operations, contributing to economic growth and regional development.
Key Entities Referenced
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs: A governmental committee, referred to as CCEA, that approved the multitracking projects.
CCEA: Abbreviation for Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
Indian Railways: The railway network for which the multitracking projects are approved.
Maharashtra: One of the states where the multitracking projects are located.
Madhya Pradesh: One of the states where the multitracking projects are located.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi - the source of the information release.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi: The Prime Minister of India, who chaired the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
Ratlam Nagda 3rd and 4th line: One of the multitracking projects approved by the CCEA.
Wardha Balharshah 4th line: One of the multitracking projects approved by the CCEA.
PMGati Shakti National Master Plan: A national plan for multimodal connectivity that facilitated the projects.
Districts across the states of Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh: The geographical areas that will be affected by the two projects.
New India: A vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for comprehensive development.
MJPSBM: Likely an abbreviation for the source of the release, but full expansion not provided in the text.
28 MAY 2025: Date of the press release.
202930: The year up to which the projects will be completed.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
Cabinet approves two multitracking projects across
Indian Railways in Maharashtra and Madhya
Pradesh
Initiatives will improve travel convenience, reduce
logistic cost, decrease oil imports and contribute to
lower CO2 emissions, supporting sustainable and
efficient rail operations
Posted On: 28 MAY 2025 3:19PM by PIB Delhi
To enhance line capacity, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi today approved two multitracking projects across Indian Railways to ensure seamless and
faster transportation of both passengers and goods.
These projects include:
1. Ratlam- Nagda 3rd and 4th line
2. Wardha- Balharshah 4th line
The total estimated cost of the projects is Rs 3,399 crore (approx.) and will be completed upto 2029-30.
The projects are result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity which have
been possible through integrated planning and will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people,
goods and services.
The two projects covering four Districts across the states of Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, will increase
the existing network of Indian Railways by about 176 Kms.
The proposed multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to approx. 784 villages, which are having a
population of about 19.74 lakh.
These are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as coal, cement, clinker, gypsum, fly ash,
containers, agriculture commodities, and Petroleum products etc. The capacity augmentation works will result
in additional freight traffic of magnitude 18.40 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum). The Railways being
environment friendly and energy efficient mode of transportation, will help both in achieving climate goals
and minimizing logistics cost of the country, reduce oil import (20 Crore Litres) and lower CO emissions (99
2
Crore Kg) which is equivalent to plantation of 4 Crore trees.
The projects will also generate direct employment for about 74 lakh human-days during construction.
These initiatives will improve travel convenience, reduce logistic cost, decrease oil imports and contribute to
lower CO emissions, supporting sustainable and efficient rail operations. The projects would also enhance
2logistical efficiency by augmenting line capacity along critical routes for transportation of containers, coal,
cement, agricultural commodities, and other goods. These improvements are expected to optimize supply
chains, thereby facilitating accelerated economic growth.
The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency
and service reliability for Indian Railways. These multi-tracking proposals are poised to streamline operations
and alleviate congestion. The projects are in line with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji’s Vision of a
New India which will make people of the region “Atmanirbhar” by way of comprehensive development in the
area which will enhance their employment/ self-employment opportunities.
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MJPS/BM
(Release ID: 2131995)