CCEA approves ₹3,399 crore railway projects in MP and Maharashtra

The approved railway projects will improve connectivity, increase freight capacity, and generate 74 lakh employment days under the PM-Gati Shakti initiative.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the chair of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), which has approved two significant railway projects to improve Madhya Pradesh’s and Maharashtra’s transport systems. The projects include building additional railway lines between Ratlam-Nagda and Wardha-Balharshah, totalling 176 km over four districts. The projects, with an estimated cost of ₹ 3,399 crore, are projected to be finished by 2029-30.

Developed under the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity, these initiatives are designed to enhance travel convenience and enable smooth movement of both passengers and freight. The enhanced infrastructure will create an estimated 74 lakh human-days of employment during construction and benefit about 784 villages with a combined population of 19.74 lakh.

The improved lines are expected to accommodate an additional freight flow of 18.40 million tonnes per year (MTPA), conveying important commodities such as coal, cement, clinker, gypsum, agricultural goods and petroleum products. Enhanced connectivity is also intended to reduce logistical costs, oil imports, and CO2 emissions, promoting long-term economic growth and aligning with the vision of an “Atmanirbhar Bharat.”