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Cabinet clears two rail multitracking projects for Gujarat, Maharashtra

The two line-expansion projects worth Rs 2,781 crore are part of Indian Railways’ push to improve connectivity on routes with high passenger footfall.

Dwarka-Kanalus rail line, Badlapur-Karjat line expansion, Indian Railways projects, Mumbai suburban network, Gujarat rail development, freight transport India, railway infrastructure projects, Devbhumi Dwarka connectivity, Mumbai-Pune train route, Kalyan Lonavala expansion

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during a briefing on Cabinet decision, Wednesday. (Amit Mehra)

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved doubling of the 141-km Dwarka-Kanalus rail line in Gujarat and building third and fourth lines between Badlapur and Karjat (32 km) in Mumbai metropolitan region.

The two line-expansion projects worth Rs 2,781 crore are part of Indian Railways’ push to improve connectivity on routes with high passenger footfall.

The Devbhumi Dwarka (Okha)-Kanalus rail line will improve connectivity to the Dwarkadhish temple, a key pilgrimage site, and transportation of commodities such as coal, salt, container, and cement.

Okha is a coastal town in Dwarka, while Kanalus railway station is in Gujarat’s Jamnagar district.

The doubling of the railway line is expected to increase the transportation of edible salt with overall additional freight traffic of 11 million ton per annum. The line will have 7 major bridges and 143 minor bridges. It will involve a total expenditure of Rs 1,457 crore.

The Badlapur-Karjat line, which is part of 88-km Kalyan Lonavala, is a crucial link of the Mumbai suburban network. The line traverses through Thane and Raigad districts of Maharashtra and the expansion will further help the commuters between Pune to Mumbai. The line falls on the 1,238-km Mumbai-Chennai via Pune-Solapur-Guntakal-Arrakonam high-density network.

The 32-km line will have eight major bridges and 106 minor bridges. It will involve a total expenditure of Rs 1,324 crore, of which 50 per cent will be spent by the Maharashtra government. The expansion of this line is also expected to increase freight movement by 7.2 million tonnes per annum.

Dheeraj Mishra

Dheeraj Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with the Business Bureau of The Indian Express. He plays a critical role in covering India's massive infrastructure sectors, providing in-depth reporting on the connectivity lifelines of the nation. Expertise & Focus Areas: Mishra’s journalism is focused on two of the country's most capital-intensive and public-facing ministries: Ministry of Railways: Tracking the operations, safety, and development of India's vast railway network. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways: Covering policy decisions, infrastructure projects, and highway development. What sets Mishra apart is his rigorous use of the Right to Information (RTI) Actas a primary tool for news gathering. By relying on official data and government records, he ensures a high degree of accuracy and trustworthiness in his reporting. This data-driven approach has resulted in numerous impactful reports that hold public institutions accountable and bring transparency to government operations. Find all stories by Dheeraj Mishra here ... Read More

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