**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Railways addresses Lok Sabha question 1836 regarding multi-tracking projects. Railway projects are sanctioned based on remunerativeness, traffic projections, demands from various stakeholders, and fund availability. Over the past three fiscal years and the current one, 184 multi-tracking projects have been sanctioned. As of April 1, 2025, 431 infrastructure projects are sanctioned, with ongoing commissioning.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Project Sanctioning:**
* Railway projects are sanctioned Zonal Railway-wise, not State/District-wise.
* Sanctioning is based on factors like remunerativeness, traffic projections, last-mile connectivity, and demands from various stakeholders.
* Fund availability and ongoing project throwforward are key considerations.
* **Multi-tracking Projects:**
* 184 multi-tracking projects, totaling 6,708 km and costing approximately ₹1,15,198 crore, have been sanctioned in the last three fiscal years and the current one.
* These projects aim to enhance line capacity, improve traffic flow, reduce bottlenecks, increase employment, develop tourism, and boost industrial activities.
* **Overall Infrastructure Projects:**
* As of 01.04.2025, 431 projects (new lines, gauge conversion, doubling) totaling 35,966 km and costing approximately ₹6.75 lakh crore are sanctioned.
* 12,769 km have been commissioned, with ₹2.91 lakh crore spent up to March 2025.
* **Commissioning Progress:**
* Average new track commissioning was 4.2 km/day during 2009-14.
* Increased to 8.57 km/day during 2014-25.
* **Recent Major Projects:**
* Lists several recently sanctioned multi-tracking projects in FY 2024-25 and the current FY, including their costs and lengths.
* **Public Information:**
* Zone-wise and year-wise details of all Railway projects are available on the Indian Railways website.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Railways:**
*Impact:* Accountable for project sanctioning, execution, and monitoring.
*Action Required:* Continue project implementation, monitor progress, and ensure transparency through public disclosures.
**State Governments:**
*Impact:* Benefit from enhanced railway infrastructure within their boundaries.
*Action Required:* Raise demands for projects and coordinate with Railways for land acquisition and other necessary support.
**General Public/Citizens:**
*Impact:* Increased employment opportunities, improved transportation, and potential for regional development.
*Action Required:* Utilize the improved infrastructure and explore employment opportunities created by the projects.
**Railway Employees/Contractors:**
*Impact:* Involvement in project execution and potential for increased workload.
*Action Required:* Efficiently execute projects within stipulated timelines and budgets.
**Parliament Members:**
*Impact:* Able to address public concerns and demands related to railway projects.
*Action Required:* Raise project-related issues in Parliament and engage with the Ministry of Railways for necessary actions.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Railways: The national railway system of India, responsible for the development, maintenance, and operation of railway infrastructure.
SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW: The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
Multitracking projects: Railway projects involving the construction of additional tracks to increase capacity and reduce congestion.
Gondia-Ballarshah Chanda Fort: A railway section where doubling is planned, with Chanda Fort being a railway station.
Sambalpur-Jarapada: A railway section where 3rd and 4th line construction is planned. Sambalpur is in Odisha, India.
Bhusawal-Khandwa: A railway section where 3rd and 4th line construction is planned. Bhusawal and Khandwa are cities in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh respectively.
Varanasi Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya: A railway section undergoing multitracking, with Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya being a major railway junction in Uttar Pradesh, India.
Prayagraj Iradatganj Manikpur: A railway section where a 3rd line is planned. All three mentioned locations are cities in Uttar Pradesh, India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1836
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
MULTI-TRACKING PROJECTS OF RAILWAYS
†1836. SHRI UJJWAL RAMAN SINGH:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has approved four important multi-
tracking projects of the Indian Railways;
(b) if so, the name of States where these projects are likely to be
implemented;
(c) the prospects of employment generation for youth from these
new projects;
(d) whether the Government has carried out any study from this
aspect; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (e): Railway projects are surveyed/ sanctioned/executed Zonal
Railway wise and not State-wise/District wise as the Railway’
projects may span across State boundaries. Sanctioning of railway
project is a continuous and dynamic process of Indian Railway and
railway projects are sanctioned on the basis of remunerativeness,
..P/2-:2:-
traffic projections, last mile connectivity, missing links and
alternate routes, augmentation of congested/saturated lines,
demands raised by State Governments, Central Ministries, Members
of Parliament, other public representatives, Railway’s own
operational requirement, socio-economic considerations etc.
depending upon throwforward of ongoing projects and overall
availability of funds.
During the last three years i.e. FY 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and the
current FY, 184 Multi-tracking projects of total length 6,708 Km
costing approx. 1,15,198 Crore have been sanctioned across the
country.
These Multi tracking projects will enhance line capacity, provide
additional passenger and freight traffic, enable faster movement of
goods and services, reduce operational bottlenecks, improve
logistics efficiency, increase in direct and indirect employment
opportunities for the people of the region, reduces operational
bottlenecks, develop tourism industry and increase industrial
activities in the region.
As on 01.04.2025, across Indian Railways, 431 Railway
infrastructure projects (154 New Line, 33 Gauge Conversion and 244
Doubling) of total length 35,966 Km, costing approx. 6.75 lakh crore
are sanctioned, out of which, 12,769 Km length has been
commissioned and an expenditure of approx. 2.91 lakh crore has
been incurred upto March, 2025. The summary is as under:-
..P/3-:3:-
Total Length
Total Exp
No of Length Commissioned till
Category upto Mar'25
Projects NL/GC/DL Mar'25
( in crore)
(km) (km)
New Lines 154 16,142 3,036 1,45,318
Gauge
33 4,180 2,997 22,753
Conversion
Doubling /
244 15,644 6,736 1,22,858
Multitracking
Total 431 35,966 12,769 2,90,929
Zone-wise/year-wise details of all Railway projects are made
available in public domain on Indian Railway’s website.
The details of commissioning/laying of new track across Indian
Railways is given below:-
New track
Period Average commissioning of new tracks
Commissioned
2009-14 7,599 Km 4.2 Km/day
2014-25 34,428 Km 8.57 Km/day (more than 2 times)
Some of the recently sanctioned major multitracking projects in FY
2024-25 and current FY are given below:
Cost
SN Name of project ( in
crore)
Kharsia - Naya Raipur - Parmalkasa 5th & 6th line
1 7854
(278 Km)
Gondia-Ballarshah (Chanda Fort) Doubling (240
2 4373
Km)
..P/4-:4:-
Narkatiaganj- Raxaul- Sitamarhi- Darbhanga &
3 Sitamarhi- Muzaffarpur sections Doubling (256 4080
km)
4 Sambalpur-Jarapada 3rd & 4th line (127 Km) 3574
5 Bhusawal-Khandwa 3rd & 4th line (131 Km) 3285
6 Ballari-Chikjajur Doubling (185 Km) 3079
7 Koderma-Barkakana (Arigada) Doubling (133 Km) 2887
8 Jalgaon-Manmad 4th line (160 km) 2574
Varanasi- Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya
9 multitracking (15 Km) including Rail cum Road 2464
Bridge across Ganga River (17 km)
10 Wardha-Balharshah Quadrupling(135 Km) 2226
11 Chandil-Anara-Damodar section 3rd line(121 Km) 1932
12 Prayagraj (Iradatganj)- Manikpur 3rd line (84 Km) 1508
13 Tirupati -Pakala- Katpadi Doubling (104 Km) 1216
14 Jharsuguda-Sason 3rd & 4th line (35 Km) 1113
15 Ratlam-Nagda 3rd and 4th line project (41 Km) 964
16 Phaphamau-Unchahahar Doubling (72 Km) 899
17 Gudur-Renigunta 3rd line (83 Km) 877
*******