On April 4, the Union Cabinet approved four major railway projects in Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, with a combined estimated cost of ₹18,658 crore. These initiatives aim to expand the Indian Railways network by around 1,247 km.
According to a statement from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), the projects—undertaken by the Ministry of Railways—will span 15 districts across the three states and are expected to be completed by 2030–31. The specific projects are:
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Jarapda 3rd and 4th lines in Sambalpur, Odisha
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Sason 3rd and 4th lines in Jharsuguda, Odisha
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Kharsia–Naya Raipur–Parmalakasa 5th and 6th lines in Chhattisgarh
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Gondia–Balharshah doubling in Maharashtra
These projects include the development of 19 new stations, aiming to enhance connectivity for around 3,350 villages and benefit roughly 47.25 lakh people.
The increased track capacity is expected to improve train movement, reduce congestion, and boost the overall efficiency and reliability of Indian Railways—particularly in some of its busiest corridors.
The CCEA noted that these projects align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘New India’, aiming to empower local communities by improving infrastructure and creating new employment and self-employment opportunities, contributing to the goal of making the region more self-reliant (Atmanirbhar).
