The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved eight multi-tracking railway projects with an estimated investment of ₹20,804 crore. The expansion will cover nearly 1,200 km across nine states and 31 districts, according to the government’s estimates.

The projects are intended to reduce congestion on the railway network and increase capacity for both passenger and freight services. They are scheduled for completion by 2029-30.

Projects to cover nine states and 31 districts

The approved package will add nearly 1,200 km of railway tracks through the eight multi-tracking projects. The works are expected to connect around 6,900 villages across the districts covered by the plan.

The government has not identified the individual projects or states in the available details. However, the package’s coverage across nine states and 31 districts indicates a broad expansion programme rather than a single-route upgrade.

Multi-tracking is intended to provide additional rail capacity on existing corridors. The government said the projects would help ease congestion, while also supporting the movement of passengers and goods.

Freight capacity expected to rise

The projects are estimated to add about 74 million tonnes of freight-handling capacity each year. This increase is expected to strengthen the railway system’s ability to handle additional goods traffic once the works are completed.

The approved investment of ₹20,804 crore will be directed towards the eight projects. Alongside the projected freight capacity, the government expects the expansion to improve the rail network’s ability to accommodate passenger services.

The planned connection of around 6,900 villages is another stated outcome of the package. The available information does not provide a project-by-project breakdown of the villages, track lengths or expected freight capacity.

Completion target set for 2029-30

The eight projects are scheduled for completion by the 2029-30 financial year. Their intended outcomes include reduced congestion, greater passenger and freight capacity, and additional rail connectivity across the nine states.

The approval marks the government’s latest railway expansion decision involving multiple states and districts. Further implementation details, including the specific routes covered by each project, were not included in the available source material.