Rail Budget for Maharashtra Sees Major Expansion Push

08 Dec 2025 CW Team

New track commissioning has also seen a dramatic rise. Between 2009–14, the state added 292 kilometres of new lines, averaging 58.4 km per year. This figure has grown to 2,292 kilometres during 2014–25, marking a more than threefold increase in annual commissioning rates.

As of April 2025, 38 projects—including 11 new lines, two gauge-conversion schemes and 25 doubling projects—covering 5,098 kilometres and costing Rs 897.8 billion are sanctioned for Maharashtra. Key projects listed in the ministry’s document include the Indore–Manmad line (Rs 185.29 billion), the Ahilyanagar–Beed–Parli Vaijnath line (Rs 49.57 billion), the Jalna–Jalgaon line (Rs 58.04 billion), and multiple third and fourth-line corridors to expand capacity.

Surveys for 98 additional projects covering 8,603 kilometres have also been sanctioned in the past three years, signalling continued expansion. Track renewal remains a priority, with 5,100 kilometres renewed nationwide in 2025–26 up to November, and 52,000 kilometres renewed since 2014.

A total of 1,337 stations have been identified for redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, including 132 stations in Maharashtra. Seventeen stations—such as Baramati, Dhule, Devlali, Parel and Murtizapur—have already completed upgrade works, while others including Wathar, Nandgaon and Hadapsar have seen major improvements and are nearing completion.

These upgrades include new station buildings, modern foot overbridges, improved circulation areas, enhanced lighting, platform shelters, landscaping, signage and accessibility provisions such as escalators and lifts.

Track renewal in Maharashtra spans several railway zones, with Central Railway replacing 271 km of track in 2025–26 (up to November), South Central Railway 505 km, South East Central Railway 196 km, Western Railway 345 km and South Western Railway 155 km.

The Ministry emphasised that these investments reflect the Union Government’s commitment to building a modern, efficient and high-capacity rail network to support Maharashtra’s economic growth.

India has sharply accelerated railway development in Maharashtra, with budgetary support rising more than twenty times over the past decade, according to details shared in the Rajya Sabha. The Ministry of Railways confirmed that investment has increased from an annual average of Rs 1.17 billion in 2009–14 to Rs 237.78 billion in 2025–26, enabling extensive expansion and modernisation of the network. New track commissioning has also seen a dramatic rise. Between 2009–14, the state added 292 kilometres of new lines, averaging 58.4 km per year. This figure has grown to 2,292 kilometres during 2014–25, marking a more than threefold increase in annual commissioning rates. As of April 2025, 38 projects—including 11 new lines, two gauge-conversion schemes and 25 doubling projects—covering 5,098 kilometres and costing Rs 897.8 billion are sanctioned for Maharashtra. Key projects listed in the ministry’s document include the Indore–Manmad line (Rs 185.29 billion), the Ahilyanagar–Beed–Parli Vaijnath line (Rs 49.57 billion), the Jalna–Jalgaon line (Rs 58.04 billion), and multiple third and fourth-line corridors to expand capacity. Surveys for 98 additional projects covering 8,603 kilometres have also been sanctioned in the past three years, signalling continued expansion. Track renewal remains a priority, with 5,100 kilometres renewed nationwide in 2025–26 up to November, and 52,000 kilometres renewed since 2014. A total of 1,337 stations have been identified for redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, including 132 stations in Maharashtra. Seventeen stations—such as Baramati, Dhule, Devlali, Parel and Murtizapur—have already completed upgrade works, while others including Wathar, Nandgaon and Hadapsar have seen major improvements and are nearing completion. These upgrades include new station buildings, modern foot overbridges, improved circulation areas, enhanced lighting, platform shelters, landscaping, signage and accessibility provisions such as escalators and lifts. Track renewal in Maharashtra spans several railway zones, with Central Railway replacing 271 km of track in 2025–26 (up to November), South Central Railway 505 km, South East Central Railway 196 km, Western Railway 345 km and South Western Railway 155 km. The Ministry emphasised that these investments reflect the Union Government’s commitment to building a modern, efficient and high-capacity rail network to support Maharashtra’s economic growth.

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