Overview

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared two multitracking rail projects—third and fourth lines on Ratlam–Nagda and a fourth line on Wardha–Balharshah—at a combined cost of ₹3,399 crore, set for completion by 2029-30.
• The railway upgrades will add 176 km of track across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and extend connectivity to around 784 villages with a population of nearly 19.74 lakh.
• A separate ₹3,653.10 crore project will build a 108.134 km four-lane Badvel–Nellore Corridor in Andhra Pradesh, reducing the route to Krishnapatnam Port by 33.9 km and cutting travel time by one hour.
• Construction is forecast to generate about 74 lakh direct human-days of employment on the rail projects and around 20 lakh direct plus 23 lakh indirect human-days on the highway, while increasing freight capacity by 18.4 million tonnes per annum.
• The expanded rail network is projected to save 20 crore litres of oil imports and cut CO₂ emissions by 99 crore kg, contributing to India’s climate targets and lowering logistics costs.