Date: 2026-04-18Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Cabinet approves two multitracking projects covering 15 Districts across the states of Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, increasing the existing network of Indian Railways by about 601 Kms
**Executive Summary**
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved two multi-tracking railway projects in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh at an estimated cost of Rs 24,815 crore. These projects will expand the existing network by 601 route kilometres across 15 districts to alleviate congestion and enhance operational efficiency. The initiatives are scheduled for completion by the 2030-31 fiscal year.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Project Overview and Financials**
* **Total Investment:** Approximately Rs 24,815 crore allocated for two major projects.
* **Infrastructure Scope:** Addition of 601 km of route length and 1,317 km of track length.
* **Timeline:** Completion is targeted for the 2030-31 period.
* **Strategic Alignment:** Projects are planned under the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan to improve multi-modal connectivity.
**Ghaziabad – Sitapur 3rd and 4th Line (Uttar Pradesh)**
* **Route Details:** Covers 403 km through nine districts including Ghaziabad, Moradabad, and Sitapur.
* **Capacity Expansion:** Addresses a section currently operating at 168% capacity, projected to reach 207% without intervention.
* **Infrastructure Changes:** Includes bypassing congested stations (e.g., Hapur, Bareilly, Sitapur) and constructing six new stations.
* **Economic Impact:** Estimated cost of Rs 14,926 crore, generating 274 lakh human-days of employment.
* **Freight and Logistics:** Anticipates 35.72 MTPA in additional freight traffic (coal, foodgrains, steel) and Rs 2,877.46 crore in annual logistic cost savings.
**Rajahmundry (Nidadavolu) – Visakhapatnam (Duvvada) 3rd and 4th Line (Andhra Pradesh)**
* **Route Details:** Covers 198 km through five districts, including Visakhapatnam and East Godavari.
* **Infrastructure Highlights:** Includes a 4.3 km rail bridge over the Godavari River and a 2.67 km viaduct.
* **Connectivity:** Provides improved access to major ports such as Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram, and Kakinada.
* **Impact:** Estimated cost of Rs 9,889 crore, generating 135 lakh human-days of employment and saving Rs 1,150.56 crore in annual logistics costs.
**Environmental and Socio-Economic Benefits**
* **Emission Reductions:** Total projected CO2 emission savings of 180.31 crore kg, equivalent to planting 7.33 crore trees.
* **Tourism:** Enhanced access to religious and tourist sites such as Naimisharanya, Garhmukteshwar, and Annavaram.
* **Economic Growth:** Focus on "Atmanirbhar" development by increasing employment and self-employment opportunities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Railways / Ministry of Railways**
**Impact**
The projects will significantly enhance line capacity (addressing utilization rates up to 168%), improve service reliability, and reduce operational delays caused by congestion.
**Action Required**
Oversee the construction, integrated planning, and stakeholder consultations as per the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan to meet the 2030-31 deadline.
**Industrial and Logistics Sectors**
**Impact**
Substantial reduction in logistics costs (over Rs 4,000 crore combined annually) and streamlined movement for commodities like coal, cement, and steel.
**Action Required**
Plan for increased freight volumes and leverage the new bypasses and port connectivity for improved supply chain efficiency.
**Local Population and Workforce**
**Impact**
Creation of approximately 409 lakh human-days of employment during the project phase and improved access to healthcare and education through better connectivity.
**Action Required**
Local labor and service providers should prepare to engage with the construction and ancillary opportunities generated by the 601 km expansion.
**Tourists and Pilgrims**
**Impact**
Improved rail access to prominent religious sites and tourist destinations across Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
**Action Required**
Utilize the expanded rail network for more efficient travel to key sites like the Dudheshwarnath Temple and the Godavari region.
Key Entities Referenced
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs: The high-level government committee that approved the two railway multitracking projects valued at ₹24,815 crore.
Ministry of Railways: The primary ministry responsible for the implementation and execution of the Ghaziabad-Sitapur and Rajahmundry-Visakhapatnam rail projects.
PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan: The integrated planning framework focused on enhancing multi-modal connectivity and logistic efficiency, under which these projects are planned.
Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh: The two primary states where the railway multitracking projects, covering 15 districts and 601 km, will be developed.
Aspirational Districts Programme: A government initiative referenced in the policy to highlight the improved connectivity and development impact on districts like Visakhapatnam.
Ministry of Railways
Cabinet approves two multitracking projects
covering 15 Districts across the states of Uttar
Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, increasing the
existing network of Indian Railways by about 601
Kms
The total estimated cost of the projects is Rs 24,815 crore to
be completed up to 2030-31
Posted On: 18 APR 2026 3:21PM by PIB Delhi
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today
has approved 02 (Two) projects of Ministry of Railways with total cost of Rs. 24,815 crore (approx.).
These projects include:
Name of Project Route Length Track Length Completion
(in km) (in km) Cost (Rs. in Cr.)
Ghaziabad – Sitapur 3rd and 4th 403 859 14,926
Line
Rajahmundry (Nidadavolu) –
Visakhapatnam (Duvvada) 3rd and 198 458 9,889
4th Line
Total 601 1,317 24,815
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.
The projects are planned on PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan with focus on enhancing multi-modal
connectivity & logistic efficiency through integrated planning and stakeholder consultations. These
projects will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods, and services.The 02 (Two) projects covering 15 Districts across the states of Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh will
increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 601 Kms.
The proposed capacity enhancement will improve rail connectivity to several prominent tourist
destinations across the country, including Dudheshwarnath Temple, Garhmukteshwar Ganga Ghat, Dargah
Shah Wilayat Jama Masjid (Amroha), Naimisharanya (Sitapur), Annavaram, Antarvedi, Draksharamam,
etc.
The proposed projects are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as coal, foodgrains,
cement, POL, iron and steel, container, fertilizers, sugar, chemical salts, limestone, etc. 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 lowering CO emissions (180.31Crore Kg)
2
which is equivalent to plantation of 7.33 Crore trees.
Ghaziabad – Sitapur 3rd and 4th Line (403 Km)
Ghaziabad – Sitapur is an existing double line section forming a key part of Delhi- Guwahati High
Density Network (HDN 4).
The project is crucial for improving connectivity between the Northern and Eastern region of the
country.
The existing line capacity utilization of the section is up to 168% and is projected to be up to 207%
in case the project is not taken up.
Transverses through Ghaziabad, Hapur, Amroha, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Sahjahanpur,
Lakhimpur Kheri and Sitapur districts of Uttar Pradesh.
The project route passes through major industrial centres - Ghaziabad (machinery, electronics,
pharmaceuticals), Moradabad (brassware and handicrafts), Bareilly (furniture, textiles, engineering),
Shahjahanpur (carpets and cement-related industries), and Roza (thermal power plant).
For seamless transportation, the project alignment is planned to bypass congested stations of Hapur,
Simbhaoli, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, and Sitapur and accordingly, six new
stations are proposed on the bypassing sections.
Key tourist/religious places along/near to the project section are Dudheshwarnath Temple,
Garhmukteshwar Ganga Ghat, Dargah Shah Wilayat Jama Masjid (Amroha), and Naimisharanya
(Sitapur) among others.
Anticipated additional freight traffic of 35.72 MTPA consisting of Coal, Foodgrains, Chemical
Manures, Finished Steel, etc.
Estimated Cost: Rs.14,926 crore (approx.)
Employment generation: 274 lakh human-days.
CO emissions saved: About 128.77 crore Kg CO equivalent to 5.15 Cr trees.
2 2
Logistic cost saving: Rs. 2,877.46 crore every year vis-a vis road transportation.
Ghaziabad – Sitapur 3rd and 4th Line (403 Km)Rajahmundry (Nidadavolu) – Visakhapatnam (Duvvada) 3rd and 4th Line (198 Km)
Rajahmundry (Nidadavolu) – Visakhapatnam (Duvvada) section forms part of the Howrah –
Chennai High Density Network (HDN).
The proposed project is part of quadrupling initiative of Howrah – Chennai High Density Network
(HDN) route.
The project traverses through East Godavari, Konaseema, Kakinada, Anakapalle and
Vishakapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Visakhapatnam is identified as an Aspirational District in the Aspirational Districts Programme.
It provides connectivity to major ports along the East Coast such as Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram,
Machilipatnam and Kakinada.
The project route runs along the eastern coastline and is among the busiest, predominantly freight-
oriented sections of the East Coast Rail Corridor.
The line capacity utilization of the section has already reached up to 130%, leading to frequent
congestion and operational delays. The line capacity is expected to increase further due to proposed
expansion of ports and industries in the region.
Project section includes 4.3 km rail bridge over Godavari River, 2.67 km viaduct, 3 bypasses and
the new alignment is around 8 km shorter than the existing route, improving connectivity andoperational efficiency.
The proposed section will also boost tourism by improving access to key destinations such as
Annavaram, Antarvedi and Draksharamam etc.
Anticipated additional freight traffic of 29.04 MTPA consisting of Coal, Cement, Chemical
Manures, Iron and Steel, Foodgrains, Containers, Bauxite, Gypsum, Limestone, etc.
Estimated Cost: Rs.9,889 crore (approx.)
Employment generation: 135 lakh human-days.
CO2 emissions saved: About 51.49 crore Kg CO2 equivalent to 2.06 Cr trees.
Logistic cost saving: Rs. 1,150.56 crore every year vis-a vis road transportation.
आथक सशकरण:
Aspirational districts - Visakhapatnam district will get improved connectivity
Additional economic opportunities in the region through tourism & industries.
Better healthcare and education for the citizens due to enhanced rail connectivity.
Rajahmundry (Nidadavolu) – Visakhapatnam (Duvvada) 3rd and 4th Line (198 Km)Prime Minister’s focus on railways:
Record budget allocation of Rs. 2,65,000 crore for FY 26-27.
Manufacturing more than 1600 locomotives- surpassed US and Europe in manufacturing of
locomotive production
In FY 26, Indian Railways is expected to rank among the top three freight carriers globally, moving
1.6 billion tonnes of cargo.
India starts exporting metro coaches to Australia and bogie to United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia,
France and Australia.
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MJPS
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