Indian Railways has approved significant railway infrastructure projects in Gujarat and Maharashtra to enhance connectivity and operational efficiency. According to an official statement issued on Wednesday, the approval includes the Adipur-Bhuj Doubling Project in Gujarat's Kutch Region with an investment of ₹493 crore and the ₹172 crore Somtane–Chikhli Chord Line project in Maharashtra to decongest Panvel Junction.
The 49-km double line project in Gujarat will enable two additional passenger train services to run in each direction every day and another 12 million tonnes per annum freight movement on the Adipur-Bhuj section of Western Railway. As reported by the official statement, the project has been approved under Indian Railways' ongoing programme for capacity augmentation through doubling, tripling and other network enhancement works to support anticipated growth in both passenger and freight traffic in the Kutch region.
The Somtane-Chikhli Chord Line (3.7 km) on Central Railway will bridge a critical missing rail link between Chikhli on the Karjat route and Somtane on the Roha route. According to the official statement, this project will provide seamless connectivity between the Karjat and Roha corridors without requiring trains to enter the congested Panvel Junction or undergo engine reversal. The new chord line is expected to facilitate movement of an additional nine million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of traffic after completion and save approximately 110 minutes of detention time per freight train.
The approved projects are particularly significant for freight traffic associated with Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, which handles nearly 60 per cent of India's container traffic. As reported by the official statement, at present, freight trains operating between the Karjat, Jasai and Roha corridors are required to enter Panvel Junction and undergo engine reversals before proceeding further. With the commissioning of the Somtane-Chikhli Chord Line, freight trains will be able to bypass Panvel, resulting in substantial operational benefits for logistics efficiency.
Indian Railways has also approved the rebuilding of a Road Over Bridge (ROB), popularly known as Shastriya Bridge, in Indore Yard at a cost of ₹139 crore. According to the official statement, this project will improve urban transportation infrastructure and enhance rail-road connectivity in Madhya Pradesh. The project has been sanctioned under Indian Railways' ongoing programme for construction and modernisation of road over bridges, road under bridges and related infrastructure aimed at improving mobility and safety at railway crossings.
