₹10,783 crore rail boost: What West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, MP and Chhattisgarh get
Indian Railways has approved ₹10,783 crore for 656 km of multitracking across five states, aiming to improve connectivity, boost freight movement and benefit nearly 4,790 villages.
- Sep 11, 2026,
- Updated Sep 11, 2026 6:00 AM IST
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Freight Rush
These are not just passenger routes. The upgraded corridors carry key commodities such as coal, cement, iron and steel, with the Railways expecting the projects to support an additional 27 million tonnes of freight traffic every year. (Representative pic)
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Track Surge
A ₹10,783 crore railway push is set to reshape connectivity across West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The three multitracking projects will add about 656 km to the network, with work targeted for completion by 2029-30. (Representative pic)
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Village Reach
The expansion could bring rail connectivity closer to nearly 4,790 villages, covering a population of about 56 lakh across 14 districts. For these regions, more tracks could mean less congestion and smoother movement of people, goods and services. (Representative pic)
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Tourist Boost
From Jagannath Temple and Taratarini Temple to Bandhavgarh and Achanakmar tiger reserves, several major tourist and religious destinations stand to gain from improved rail connectivity. The projects could make some of these routes easier to access. (Representative pic)
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Green Dividend
The railway expansion is also projected to cut fuel use and emissions. The Railways estimates the projects could reduce oil imports by around 12 crore litres and lower CO2 emissions by about 62 crore kg, equivalent to planting 2.48 crore trees. (Representative pic)