MP Gets 4 Major Rail Projects Worth ₹24,208 Crore Under Gatishakti

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Four major railway infrastructure projects have been sanctioned for Madhya Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Gatishakti Master Plan. With a total length of 565 kilometres and an estimated cost of ₹24,208 crore, the projects aim to significantly enhance rail connectivity and boost freight and passenger capacity across key corridors in the state.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made the announcement on Thursday via video conferencing.

Among the most significant of the new undertakings is the Manmad–Indore new rail line, stretching 309 km and costing ₹18,036 crore. This corridor will establish a vital link between Indore, Dhar, Khargone and Barwani districts in Madhya Pradesh and Nashik and Dhule districts in Maharashtra, promoting regional development and mobility.

To bolster freight transportation, the Bhusaval–Khandwa section will be upgraded with third and fourth rail lines over a 131 km stretch at a cost of ₹3,514 crore. This expansion is expected to reduce congestion and streamline goods movement.

In eastern Madhya Pradesh, the Prayagraj (Iradatganj)–Manikpur third rail line, covering 84 km at ₹1,640 crore, will enhance connectivity for the Rewa region with Chitrakoot and Prayagraj in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, facilitating faster passenger and freight movement.

Another key project, the Ratlam–Nagda third and fourth line expansion, will cover 41 km and cost ₹1,018 crore. The Ratlam–Nagda section serves as a crucial hub for rail traffic moving in all four directions. Doubling the lines here will reduce the line utilisation rate from the current 116% to 65%, vastly improving efficiency. This development will also enhance Madhya Pradesh’s connectivity with western ports such as Kandla, Mundra, Pipavav, Hazira and Dahej, benefiting both the industrial and agricultural sectors.

As part of this project, six stations—Ratlam Junction, Bangrod, Rankheda, Khachrod, Beravanya and Nagda Junction—will be upgraded. In addition, 70 Foot Over Bridges (FOBs), five major bridges, three railway over bridges (ROBs) and 15 under bridges will be constructed. The route will be equipped with modern safety and signalling technology such as the "Kavach" system and will be capable of handling trains running at speeds up to 160 km/h.

3 new trains

Three new trains have also been introduced to further strengthen rail connectivity in Madhya Pradesh. The Rewa–Pune Express will provide a direct link from Rewa to Pune via Jabalpur, offering a convenient long-distance travel option from the Vindhya region to Maharashtra.

The Jabalpur–Raipur Express, running via Nainpur and Gondia, will ease travel between Mahakaushal and Chhattisgarh, increasing both speed and comfort for passengers.

Moreover, the Gwalior–KSR Bengaluru City Express will connect Gwalior with Bengaluru via Guna and Bhopal, establishing a long-awaited direct rail service between Madhya Pradesh and southern India.