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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved eight railway multi-tracking projects on 9 September 2026 at an estimated cost of Rs 20,804 crore.
The projects add about 1,196 km to the Indian Railways network and are targeted for completion by 2029-30.
They span nine states - Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh - covering 31 districts and about 6,911 villages.
Five southern projects cost Rs 10,021 crore over 540 km; three eastern and central projects cost Rs 10,783 crore over 656 km.
The package is projected to add 74 million tonnes per annum of freight capacity and is being implemented under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
| Group | Project | Length |
|---|---|---|
| South (5 projects, Rs 10,021 crore, 540 km) | Arakkonam-Renigunta third and fourth lines | 77 km |
| South | Whitefield-Bangarapet third and fourth lines | 47 km |
| South | Hosur-Omalur doubling | 147 km |
| South | Salem-Karur-Dindigul doubling | 159 km |
| South | Secunderabad (Ghatkesar)-Kazipet multi-tracking | 110 km |
| East and centre (3 projects, Rs 10,783 crore, 656 km) | Kharagpur-Jharsuguda (Bagdehi) fourth line | Part of the 656 km |
| East and centre | Katni-Pendra Road fourth line | Part of the 656 km |
| East and centre | Bilaspur (Uslapur)-Pendra Road third line | Part of the 656 km |
A national infrastructure planning framework for integrated multimodal connectivity, coordinating road, rail, port, airport and logistics planning across ministries so that projects are planned together rather than in isolation.
Key: These eight multi-tracking projects are being implemented under it; railway capacity expansion is treated as a core element of network decongestion and corridor augmentation.
The southern cluster runs across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana - Arakkonam-Renigunta, Whitefield-Bangarapet, Hosur-Omalur, Salem-Karur-Dindigul and Secunderabad-Kazipet. The eastern and central cluster covers West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, taking in the Kharagpur-Jharsuguda, Katni-Pendra Road and Bilaspur-Pendra Road corridors, which carry heavy coal and mineral freight.
General Awareness > Indian Railways and Infrastructure
GS Paper 3 > Infrastructure > Railways
According to the Indian Railways (2019-2020), which state has the largest railway track in India?
Answer: Uttar Pradesh
With reference to bio-toilets used by the Indian Railways, consider the following statements: 1. The decomposition of human waste in the bio-toilets is initiated by a fungal inoculum. 2. Ammonia and water vapour are the only end products in this decomposition which are released into the atmosphere. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: Neither 1 nor 2
Adding extra lines on an existing railway corridor - doubling, third line or fourth line - to raise capacity without laying a wholly new route.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister; it clears major economic and investment proposals including large railway projects.
Million tonnes per annum - the standard unit for freight-carrying capacity; this package adds 74 MTPA.