Indian Railways Approves ₹440 Crore Project for Third Line on High-Density Route

New Delhi, July 23: Indian Railways has approved a ₹440 crore project to lay a 14.52-kilometer third rail line between the Nimpura West Outer Cabin and Midnapore. This initiative aims to enhance the capacity of this busy rail corridor and facilitate smoother movement of both passenger and freight trains.

According to an official statement, this project is part of a broader plan by Indian Railways to increase network capacity on high-density routes. Once completed, the route will enable an additional 3.52 million tons per annum (MTPA) of freight transport, significantly benefiting industries and the transportation of essential goods.

This section is part of the High Utilization Network (HUN-2). Currently, the segment from Nimpura West Outer Cabin to Gokulpur operates on a single line, while doubling work is already underway. The addition of the third line will notably enhance both the capacity and operational flexibility of this strategically important route.

The rail line facilitates the transport of various critical goods, including manganese, iron ore, containers, coal, clinker, pellet iron, steel, wheat, stone, sleepers, slag, salt, rice, petroleum products, limestone, gypsum, fertilizers, edible oils, chemical salts, charcoal, cement, ballast, and ash. Presently, approximately 23.80 million tons of freight is transported annually on this route.

According to the railway authorities, the current line capacity utilization has reached 115.71%, indicating severe congestion. The introduction of the third line will provide additional capacity, better meeting the growing demand for passenger and freight traffic.

Upon completion of this project, the transportation of essential goods will be expedited, operational disruptions will decrease, the reliability of the railway network will improve, and industries and businesses reliant on this crucial rail corridor will benefit from enhanced connectivity.

Indian Railways states that this approval is part of its long-term strategy to expand capacity on high-density rail routes, aiming to ensure the swift and smooth movement of freight and passenger trains while driving the country’s economic growth through a modern, efficient, and future-ready rail network.