Cabinet Greenlights ₹20,804 Crore for Railway Expansion
The Indian Cabinet has approved eight railway projects aimed at enhancing connectivity across multiple states.
Eight railway projects approved with a total cost of ₹20,804 crore.
Projects will improve connectivity to over 6,900 villages and major tourist sites.
Capacity enhancements expected to increase freight traffic significantly.
On September 9, 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sanctioned eight railway projects with a combined budget of ₹20,804 crore. These initiatives are designed to bolster the railway infrastructure across several states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
Among the approved projects, five focus on multi-tracking, which includes the Arakkonam-Renigunta and Whitefield-Bangarapet lines, as well as the doubling of the Hosur-Omalur and Salem-Karur-Dindigul lines. These developments will span a total of 77 km to 159 km, enhancing rail connectivity and facilitating smoother transport of goods and passengers.
The projects are expected to connect approximately 2,121 villages, benefiting around 52 lakh residents. Additionally, the enhancements will significantly improve access to popular tourist attractions such as the Tirupati Temple and Kodaikanal Hills, thereby promoting tourism in these regions. An official statement from the Ministry of Railways emphasized that these routes are crucial for transporting essential commodities like coal, cement, and food grains.
The remaining three projects, which include the Kharagpur-Jharsuguda fourth line and others, will extend connectivity to nearly 4,790 villages, impacting a population of about 56 lakh. These projects are also vital for the transport of various goods and are projected to increase freight traffic by 27 million tonnes per annum.
In total, these eight projects will expand the Indian Railways network by 1,196 km. They are aligned with the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which aims to enhance logistics efficiency and multi-modal connectivity through comprehensive planning and collaboration with stakeholders.
