Cabinet Approves Four Multi-Tracking Rail Projects Adding 894 Km to Network

08 Oct 2025 CW Team

Approved Projects:

Wardha – Bhusawal: 3rd & 4th line, 314 km (Maharashtra)
Gondia – Dongargarh: 4th line, 84 km (Maharashtra & Chhattisgarh)
Vadodara – Ratlam: 3rd & 4th line, 259 km (Gujarat & Madhya Pradesh)
Itarsi – Bhopal – Bina: 4th line, 237 km (Madhya Pradesh)

These multi-tracking projects will enhance connectivity to around 3,633 villages with a population of approximately 85.84 lakh, including two Aspirational Districts — Vidisha and Rajnandgaon. The additional lines will improve operational efficiency, service reliability, and mobility, while alleviating congestion on key routes.

Aligned with the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, these projects focus on multi-modal connectivity and logistic efficiency through integrated planning and stakeholder engagement. They will facilitate seamless movement of people, goods, and services, while promoting regional development and boosting employment and self-employment opportunities, supporting the vision of a “New Atmanirbhar India.”

The upgraded routes will also improve tourism access to destinations such as Sanchi, Satpura Tiger Reserve, Rock Shelter of Bhimbetka, Hazara Falls, and Nawegaon National Park. Additionally, they are key freight corridors for commodities including coal, containers, cement, fly ash, food grains, and steel, with an estimated additional freight capacity of 78 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum).

As an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transport, these projects are expected to reduce oil imports by 280 million litres, cut CO2 emissions by 1.39 billion kg (equivalent to planting sixty million trees), and help achieve India’s climate goals while lowering logistics costs.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved four multi-tracking projects under the Ministry of Railways, with a total estimated cost of Rs 246.34 billion. The projects cover 18 districts across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh, increasing the existing Indian Railways network by approximately 894 km.Approved Projects:Wardha – Bhusawal: 3rd & 4th line, 314 km (Maharashtra)Gondia – Dongargarh: 4th line, 84 km (Maharashtra & Chhattisgarh)Vadodara – Ratlam: 3rd & 4th line, 259 km (Gujarat & Madhya Pradesh)Itarsi – Bhopal – Bina: 4th line, 237 km (Madhya Pradesh)These multi-tracking projects will enhance connectivity to around 3,633 villages with a population of approximately 85.84 lakh, including two Aspirational Districts — Vidisha and Rajnandgaon. The additional lines will improve operational efficiency, service reliability, and mobility, while alleviating congestion on key routes.Aligned with the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, these projects focus on multi-modal connectivity and logistic efficiency through integrated planning and stakeholder engagement. They will facilitate seamless movement of people, goods, and services, while promoting regional development and boosting employment and self-employment opportunities, supporting the vision of a “New Atmanirbhar India.”The upgraded routes will also improve tourism access to destinations such as Sanchi, Satpura Tiger Reserve, Rock Shelter of Bhimbetka, Hazara Falls, and Nawegaon National Park. Additionally, they are key freight corridors for commodities including coal, containers, cement, fly ash, food grains, and steel, with an estimated additional freight capacity of 78 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum).As an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transport, these projects are expected to reduce oil imports by 280 million litres, cut CO2 emissions by 1.39 billion kg (equivalent to planting sixty million trees), and help achieve India’s climate goals while lowering logistics costs.

Building Material

27 Nov 2025

Shalimar Paints Launches New Durable Luxury Interior and Exterior Range

Shalimar Paints has introduced three additions to its portfolio: Hero Insignia Luxury Interior Emulsion, Superlac PU Gloss Enamel and Hero Weather Guard 12 Luxury Exterior Emulsion. The new range is designed to combine finish, durability and environmental responsibility for modern residential spaces.Hero Insignia is a water-based luxury interior emulsion formulated with hybrid binder technology, providing a silky finish, stain resistance and protection from scuff marks. It offers more than 2,000 colour options, a 10-year promise and zero VOC levels, and can be applied on plaster, concrete and ..

Resources

27 Nov 2025

Trimble Promotes Harsh Pareek as VP Direct Sales for APAC

Trimble has promoted Harsh Pareek to Vice President, Direct Sales, Asia-Pacific for its Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) division. Mr Pareek joined the company in 2017 and has more than 27 years of industry experience. He most recently served as Regional Sales Director for India for over eight years, during which he played a major role in accelerating Trimble’s growth and expanding its footprint across the Indian Subcontinent.Expressing his focus for the new role, Mr Pareek said that the AECO sector in Asia-Pacific is entering a phase driven by technology, sustai..

Infrastructure Energy

27 Nov 2025

Rajasthan Moves Mining Processes Fully Online From 15 December

The Rajasthan government will make all mining-related processes entirely paperless from 15 December, a senior official said. The Mines, Geology and Petroleum Department will halt all offline work across its mining modules, requiring officials to operate exclusively through online systems. Principal Secretary (Mines) T Ravikant said compliance monitoring will begin on 1 December while addressing an orientation workshop for officials from the Jaipur, Bharatpur, Ajmer, Kota and Bikaner zones. Ravikant explained that the department has developed two mobile applications and fourteen online modules..