The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved three major railway projects worth Rs 23,437 crore on Tuesday, spanning 901 km across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. The projects include the Nagda-Mathura 3rd and 4th Line, Guntakal-Wadi 3rd and 4th Line, and Burhwal-Sitapur 3rd and 4th Line, with completion expected by 2030-31.

These upgrades are expected to enhance rail capacity by 60 million tonnes per annum, significantly reducing congestion on key freight corridors and improving operational efficiency. They will connect approximately 4,161 villages and provide better access to major tourist sites such as Mathura, Vrindavan, Ranthambore National Park, and Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt.

The projects will also strengthen logistics efficiency and support climate goals by reducing oil imports by 37 crore litres and cutting CO2 emissions by 185 crore kg—equivalent to planting seven crore trees. Designed under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the initiatives integrate multi-modal transport planning to lower logistics costs and improve service reliability.

The government stated that the expanded infrastructure will facilitate seamless movement of goods including coal, cement, foodgrains, fertilisers, and containers. Work on the projects will proceed through coordinated implementation by Indian Railways and state authorities.

The Ministry of Railways will oversee execution, with progress aligned to the national infrastructure pipeline; the next official review is scheduled for the third quarter of the fiscal year.