Boost to Rail Infrastructure: Cabinet Clears Major Multitracking Projects in Maharashtra

In a major step toward strengthening India’s rail logistics backbone, the Union Cabinet has approved two key multitracking railway projects in Maharashtra and Gujarat, with a combined investment of approximately ₹2,781 crore. The projects aim to expand track capacity on high-density routes that are witnessing rising passenger and freight movement, especially due to rapid industrialisation and urban expansion in western India.

The sanctioned multitracking works — involving either doubling, tripling, or quadrupling of existing tracks — are expected to significantly enhance line capacity and ease bottlenecks. Western India, particularly the Mumbai and Gujarat belt, handles some of the highest rail traffic volumes in the country. This region’s corridors are crucial links for industries, ports, refineries, and dense suburban systems. Strengthening them directly supports India’s economic competitiveness.

The projects will have a notable impact on freight movement, ensuring faster and more reliable connectivity for goods trains, reducing delays, and improving turnaround times. This aligns with India’s broader vision under the National Rail Plan, PM Gati Shakti, and logistics modernisation policies aimed at reducing logistics costs and integrating rail more deeply with industrial and port ecosystems.

For passengers, especially daily commuters in Maharashtra’s extensive suburban network, multitracking promises relief from congestion, more punctual train services, and improved operational flexibility. As urban populations rise, expanding suburban rail capacity becomes critical to sustainable mobility.

From a long-term perspective, the Cabinet’s approval is part of a continuous national effort to modernise railway infrastructure, adopt future-ready capacity enhancements, and prepare the network for rising economic demand. For UPSC aspirants, this development is relevant to topics like infrastructure planning, regional development, multimodal logistics, and public investment strategies.