Cabinet clears 8 rail multitracking projects worth Rs 20,804 crore across 9 states

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 9 September 2026 approved eight railway multitracking projects with a combined estimated cost of Rs 20,804 crore. The projects will add about 1,196 km of new lines to the Indian Railways network and are targeted for completion by 2029-30.

Which routes are covered

South India – 5 projects, about Rs 10,021 crore, around 540 km (Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu):

• Arakkonam – Renigunta 3rd and 4th lines
• Whitefield – Bangarapet 3rd and 4th lines
• Hosur – Omalur doubling
• Salem – Karur – Dindigul doubling
• Secunderabad (Ghatkesar) – Kazipet multitracking (110 km)

East and Central India – 3 projects, about Rs 10,783 crore, around 656 km (West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh):

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• Kharagpur – Jharsuguda (Bagdehi) 4th line
• Katni – Pendra Road 4th line
• Bilaspur (Uslapur) – Pendra Road 3rd line

Key numbers

Why it matters

Many of these sections are busy routes carrying coal, cement, steel, iron ore and food grains. Adding third and fourth lines lets freight and passenger trains run on separate tracks, which reduces delays and allows more trains per day. Routes such as Whitefield–Bangarapet near Bengaluru and Arakkonam–Renigunta near Chennai also carry heavy passenger traffic, so extra lines could ease congestion for commuters.

Shifting more goods traffic from road to rail is also expected to lower fuel use and emissions, according to the government's assessment of the projects.