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Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnav informed about the decisions taken by the Union Cabinet and the ongoing projects aimed at railway modernization, said that in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continuous efforts have been going on for the last 12 years to comprehensively modernize the Indian railway network. The government aims to increase the capacity of the country’s important railway routes, reduce traffic congestion and prepare the railway system for future transport needs.

According to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, the railways has seven high-density corridors spread over about 11,000 km. The work of laying four tracks (quadrupling) on ​​these main routes is currently underway. Drawing a parallel with the ‘Golden Quadrilateral’ highway project launched during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure, he noted that just as the highway network was strengthened then, the country’s major railway corridors are now being strengthened with four or more tracks under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Major focus on Mumbai-Howrah/Mumbai-Kolkata corridor

The Railway Minister explained that the section from Mumbai to Kalyan already has four tracks. Subsequently, several projects covering the route towards Jalgaon, Bhusawal and Nagpur have been approved, and work has started on them. The entire network is one of the most important and busiest rail routes in the country; Its expansion will facilitate smooth movement of both passengers and freight trains. The aim of these projects goes beyond just laying new tracks; It involves modernization of the entire railway operational system by increasing the capacity of the existing network. This will create additional capacity for train operations on busy routes and pave the way for launching new trains in the future.

Fourth rail line from Kharagpur to Odisha

Ashwini Vaishnav particularly highlighted the project of building the fourth rail line between Kharagpur and Odisha. He noted that the region experiences extremely high traffic density, with capacity utilization of existing lines already exceeding 100 percent. Consequently, construction of a fourth line has become essential. The project, which will cost ₹6,528 crore, spans about 367 km. After the completion of the fourth line, the traffic congestion on this section will be reduced. This will give the railways additional capacity to run new trains and help resolve existing traffic issues. The project will also provide connectivity to several ‘Aspirational Districts’. Improved rail connectivity is expected to boost trade, employment, industrial activities and local economy in these regions.

Reduction of 430 million kilograms of CO₂ emissions annually

The Railway Minister also highlighted the environmental benefits of the project. According to him, rail transport is already environmentally beneficial, and the project will help avoid emissions of about 430 million kilograms (430 million kilograms) of carbon dioxide annually. Ashwini Vaishnav noted that absorbing this amount of carbon dioxide would require an effort equivalent to planting about 17.3 million (1.73 crore) trees. As a result, the fourth line project is also considered important from the point of view of environmental protection.

Savings of ₹ 967 crore in logistics costs

The expansion of the railway network will also have a direct impact on the country’s logistics system. According to the Railway Minister, the project is estimated to save around ₹967 crore in logistics costs. Availability of additional rail capacity will make freight transportation more efficient and easier. The project will also create massive employment opportunities. According to the government, construction and activities are expected to generate 12.5 million (125 lakh) man-days of employment.

Overall, the expansion of projects such as the high-density railway corridor and the fourth line represent important steps towards preparing Indian Railways for future passenger and freight transport needs. The government’s focus is on building a rail network that is not only high-capacity but also fast, safe, environment-friendly and cost-effective.