The central government has approved the proposed new rail line between Indore and Manmad at a cost of Rs 18,036 crore. This line will pass through six districts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which will increase rail connectivity. There will be convenience in transportation. Also, the existing railway network will increase by about 309 kilometers and 30 new stations will be built.

The project will be completed by 2028-29. The construction of new railway lines has gained momentum in the last ten years. Now on an average more than 14 km of new railway line is being constructed every day, whereas during the UPA government this figure was about five km per day. Just last week, the cabinet had decided to build 300 km of new railway line between Jharkhand and Odisha.

Industrial development will also gain momentum

This new railway line will provide connectivity to about 30 lakh population of one thousand villages. The railway line will pass through Badwani, Khargone, Dhar and Indore of Madhya Pradesh and Nasik and Dhule districts of Maharashtra. Badwani district will get the most benefit. The project connecting the western and south-western parts with central India will also accelerate industrial development.

There will be connectivity with these districts

Seven hundred small and medium industries along with 90 large units of Pithampur auto cluster will get direct connectivity to the Gateway Port of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and other ports of the state. This line will pass through millet producing districts of Madhya Pradesh and onion producing districts of Maharashtra, which will facilitate distribution of these commodities in the northern and southern parts of the country.

What are the benefits of the new railway line project?

Transportation of goods like agricultural products, fertilizers, containers, iron ore, steel, cement and POL will be easy. Through this, additional freight of about 2.6 crore tonnes per year will be transported. Efforts are on to make railways an environment friendly and energy efficient mode of transport. The new railway line project will help in achieving climate goals and reducing the logistics cost of the country.