CARGOCONNECT-JANUARY2025 - Flipbook - Page 14
F U T U R E - F O R WA R D
India’s Railway Renaissance:
Expanding Capacity and Going Green
Located on the Mumbai-Prayagraj-Varanasi route,
this quadrupling project is designed to signi昀椀cantly
enhance the capacity of the line to handle both passenger
and freight tra昀케c. The expansion will directly bene昀椀t
Maharashtra’s ports, a major hub for transporting
agricultural products and other goods. The project is
expected to facilitate an additional 21 million tonnes of
freight annually, which will result in substantial fuel
savings—an estimated 80 million litres of diesel each
year. This will not only reduce operational costs but also
contribute to India’s environmental goals by lowering
the carbon footprint associated with rail freight.
* Bhusawal – Khandwa Track Quadrupling (131 km)
Investment: `35.1 billion
This expansion project will span across Madhya
Pradesh and Maharashtra, aimed at
meeting the growing demand for both
freight and passenger transport. The
The electrification
Bhusawal – Khandwa line’s expandrive is a key element
sion will increase freight tra昀케c by
of Indian Railways’
approximately 13 million tonnes
annually, making it a crucial corridor
ambition to achieve
for the movement of goods between
net-zero carbon
Mumbai and the northern and eastemissions by 2030 and
ern parts of India. The expansion is
underscores the
expected to enhance the e昀케ciency
he Union Cabinet’s
of freight operations by reducing
government’s
recent approval of
bottlenecks and ensuring timely
commitment
to
green
three major track
deliveries. With its enhanced capacand sustainable
expansion projects,
ity, this line will support industries
infrastructure.
totalling 375 kilomesuch as manufacturing, mining, and
ters and an investment
agriculture, which rely on e昀케cient
of `79.3 billion (US$961 million),
rail transport for bulk shipments.
marks a pivotal step in strengthening India’s railway
* Manikpur – Prayagraj Track Tripling (84 km)
infrastructure. These projects aim to alleviate congestion,
Investment: `16.5 billion
enhance rail connectivity, and improve both freight and
This project, situated in Uttar Pradesh, is focussed
passenger movement across key regions of the country.
on strengthening connectivity to the eastern railway
The approved initiatives are part of the government’s
freight corridor, which will further integrate India’s
broader vision to enhance logistics capabilities, reduce
freight network. The tripling of this line will boost
transportation costs, and foster economic growth, all
freight tra昀케c by an estimated 16 million tonnes annuwhile supporting environmental sustainability.
ally, thereby facilitating smoother cargo movement
across key regions. Moreover, this project will not
only support the industrial hubs in Uttar Pradesh and
Accessing Key Projects and Their
Madhya Pradesh but also stimulate regional economic
Impact
growth by connecting local industries to national and
These three projects are strategically positioned along
international markets.
some of India’s busiest and most vital rail routes. By
focussing on capacity expansion, these e昀昀orts are set
Electri昀椀cation: A Game-Changer
to directly address critical bottlenecks and improve the
for Freight
e昀케ciency of rail transport. Below is an in-depth look
at each of the approved projects:
Alongside these vital track expansions, a remarkable
* Manmad – Jalgaon Track Quadrupling (160 km)
transformation is underway in Indian Railways’ electri昀椀caInvestment: `27.7 billion
tion e昀昀orts. In August 2024, a national daily reported that
95% of Indian Railways’ vast 68,000-kilometer network
T
14 | CARGOCONNECT JANUARY 2025
