New Delhi: Indian Railways has approved a ₹493-crore new railway line connecting Mukutban in Yavatmal district with Gadchandur in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, creating a 38.21-km rail link through an industrial and mining belt.
The project is part of efforts to provide a shorter rail route for freight movement, connect industrial clusters and offer an alternative corridor to the existing railway network.
38.21-Km Line to Serve Industrial and Mining Belt
Mukutban and Gadchandur are located near major cement plants, coal mines operated by Western Coalfields Ltd. and limestone mines.
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The new line is expected to provide direct rail connectivity to these industrial centres and support the movement of freight commodities.
Key freight expected to use the route includes:
- Coal and coke
- Cement
- Sponge iron
- Metal scrap
- Iron and steel
- Fertilisers
- Foodgrains
Project Expected to Handle 6.08 MTPA Freight
According to the Detailed Project Report, the line is expected to handle around 6.08 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of freight traffic after commissioning.
The planned passenger service will include two MEMU trains in each direction every day.
The new route is also expected to reduce travel distance and transportation time compared with existing routes.
Alternative Route to Ease Existing Network
The project will provide an alternative route to the Wardha-Manikgarh section, helping distribute freight traffic across the railway network.
It will also reduce dependence on the Balharshah-Nagpur High-Density Network (HDN) route, which currently carries substantial traffic.
The new connectivity is expected to provide shorter rail leads towards destinations including:
- Jalna
- Parbhani
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
- Other destinations in Maharashtra and Karnataka
Direct Link to Majri-Nanded Route
The new line will connect the coal and cement cluster with the Majri-Nanded route, enabling shorter movement of coal, cement and RMSP traffic.
The project will also provide an additional rail corridor for the relatively less-connected areas of Yavatmal and Chandrapur districts.
Rail Infrastructure to Support Freight and Passenger Movement
Indian Railways said the project will add capacity to the regional network and provide another corridor for the movement of freight and passengers.
The line is expected to facilitate the movement of essential commodities while enabling greater utilisation of the existing railway network.
The 38.21-km Mukutban-Gadchandur new line has been approved at a cost of ₹493 crore and is part of efforts to expand rail connectivity across industrial and mining regions.
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