Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 17: Indian Railways has approved a series of infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 800 crore aimed at increasing network capacity, easing congestion and improving freight and passenger connectivity in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
According to an official statement issued on Wednesday, the railway ministry has sanctioned the Rs 493-crore Adipur-Bhuj doubling project in Gujarat, the Rs 172-crore Somtane-Chikhli chord line in Maharashtra and a Rs 139-crore road overbridge reconstruction project in Indore.
Rs 493-crore Adipur-Bhuj doubling project approved
The 49-kilometre Adipur-Bhuj double-line project in Gujarat's Kutch region is expected to significantly enhance railway operations by enabling two additional passenger train services in each direction every day.
The project will also support an additional freight movement capacity of 12 million tonnes annually along the Adipur-Bhuj section of the Western Railway.
The expansion is part of Indian Railways' broader programme to strengthen its network through doubling, tripling and other capacity augmentation works in anticipation of rising passenger and cargo demand in the region.
At present, the Adipur-Bhuj stretch forms part of the single-line Gandhidham-Naliya corridor. Traffic in the area is expected to rise considerably due to several railway projects currently under development, including the Bhuj-Naliya gauge conversion and the extension of the Naliya-Vayor rail line.
New railway links connecting Naliya-Jakhau, Vayor-Lakhpat and Deshalpar-Luna are also nearing completion.
Officials said the doubling project will help accommodate future traffic growth, improve operational efficiency and strengthen connectivity across the Kutch region.
Maharashtra to get Somtane-Chikhli chord line
Indian Railways has also approved the construction of a 3.7-kilometre Somtane-Chikhli chord line on Central Railway at an estimated cost of Rs 172 crore.
The project will create a direct rail link between Chikhli on the Karjat route and Somtane on the Roha route, eliminating the need for trains to pass through the heavily congested Panvel Junction or undergo engine reversals.
Panvel is one of the busiest railway hubs in the Mumbai metropolitan region, handling train traffic from Roha, JNPT, Karjat and Diva.
The absence of a direct connection between the Karjat and Roha routes currently creates operational bottlenecks and delays train movement.
Once completed, the new chord line is expected to support an additional nine million tonnes of freight traffic every year.
Officials said the project would reduce detention time for freight trains by nearly 110 minutes per train, improving logistics efficiency and turnaround times.
The project will be particularly beneficial for freight operations linked to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), which handles nearly 60 per cent of India's container traffic.
Currently, freight trains operating between Karjat, Jasai and Roha must enter Panvel Junction and reverse engines before continuing their journey. The new line will allow them to bypass Panvel entirely, easing congestion and improving overall network performance.
Rs 139-crore bridge redevelopment approved in Indore
Indian Railways has also sanctioned Rs 139 crore for rebuilding the Shastriya Bridge, a Road Over Bridge (ROB) located in the Indore rail yard in Madhya Pradesh.
The project is expected to improve urban transportation infrastructure and strengthen rail-road connectivity in the city.
The redevelopment forms part of Indian Railways' ongoing initiative to modernise road overbridges, road underbridges and related infrastructure to improve mobility and enhance safety at railway crossings across the country.