The Union Cabinet has approved eight railway multitracking projects worth over ₹20,800 crore, aimed at expanding line capacity, improving operational efficiency, and reducing congestion on key routes.
Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said three projects, costing more than ₹10,783 crore, will span 14 districts across West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Together, they will add about 656 kilometres to the railway network. These include:
- Kharagpur–Jharsuguda (4th line)
- Katni–Pendra Road (4th line)
- Bilaspur–Pendra Road (3rd line)
Completion is targeted for 2029–30.
The remaining five projects, costing nearly ₹10,021 crore, will cover 17 districts in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana, adding about 540 kilometres to the network. Key works include:
- Arakkonam–Renigunta (3rd and 4th lines)
- Whitefield–Bangarapet (3rd and 4th lines)
- Doubling of the Hosur–Omalur line
These projects will enhance connectivity to around 2,100 villages, benefiting a population of approximately 52 lakh.
Vaishnaw also announced that the government has decided to quadruple all seven high‑density railway corridors, covering nearly 11,000 kilometres. Corridors include Delhi–Howrah, Mumbai–Howrah, Delhi–Mumbai, Delhi–Guwahati, Delhi–Chennai, Howrah–Chennai, and Mumbai–Chennai. Already, 2,000 kilometres have been completed.
On the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project, Vaishnaw confirmed that services will commence next year, with the initial 100‑kilometre section from Surat to Vapi set to open.
