Central Cabinet Approves New 309-Kilometer Mumbai-Indore Railway Line

Central Cabinet Approves New 309-Kilometer Mumbai-Indore Railway Line

The central cabinet has approved a new 309-kilometer railway line project between Mumbai and Indore. This new rail line will connect districts in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh that were previously not linked by rail. The project includes 2 districts from Maharashtra and 4 from Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this approval.

On September 2, 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the new railway line project costing ₹18,036 crore. The new line will link Indore and Manmad, playing a crucial role in regional development. This project is part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which aims to provide seamless connectivity for people and goods through an integrated approach.

The project will include the construction of 30 new stations and benefit around 1,000 villages directly. It will improve connectivity for Madhya Pradesh’s aspirational district, Barwani, and boost tourism in the Ujjain-Indore region. Tourist numbers are expected to rise at various religious sites, including the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple.

The new railway line will also directly connect the Pithampur auto cluster and agricultural districts, facilitating the distribution of goods between the northern and southern parts of the country. This route will be essential for transporting agricultural products, fertilizers, containers, iron ore, steel, and cement.

The project is expected to have a positive environmental impact by reducing logistics costs, lowering oil imports, and decreasing carbon emissions, which is equivalent to planting five crore trees.