Overview
- The four sections approved are Wardha–Bhusawal 3rd and 4th lines (314 km), Gondia–Dongargarh 4th line (84 km), Vadodara–Ratlam 3rd and 4th lines (259 km), and Itarsi–Bhopal–Bina 4th line (237 km).
- Coverage spans 18 districts across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh, improving connectivity to about 3,633 villages with a combined population of roughly 85.84 lakh, including Vidisha and Rajnandgaon.
- Capacity augmentation is projected to handle an additional 78 million tonnes of freight per year across key corridors carrying coal, containers, cement, fly ash, food grains, and steel.
- Government estimates cite energy and climate gains, including reduced oil imports of about 28 crore litres and CO2 cuts of around 139 crore kilograms, equivalent to planting six crore trees.
- Planned under the PM‑Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the projects aim to improve multimodal logistics through integrated planning and will also enhance access to sites such as Sanchi, Satpura Tiger Reserve, Bhimbetka, Hazara Falls, and Nawegaon National Park.