The Union Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, while replying to Unstarred Question No. 1738 in the Lok Sabha today, affirmed the Central Government's commitment to strengthening rail infrastructure in the state of Chhattisgarh. Responding to a question asked by Shri Vijay Baghel, MP, the Minister presented a detailed account of the sanctioned projects, their progress, and the current status to the House.

The Minister informed that the Budget Allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works falling wholly/partly in the state of Chhattisgarh has witnessed a historic increase. While the average annual outlay during 2009-2014 was merely ₹311 Crore per year, it has surged to ₹6,925 Crore for the financial year 2025-2026, which is an increase of more than 22 times. This significant allocation is dedicated to accelerating connectivity, modernization, and passenger amenities in Chhattisgarh.

Among the ongoing projects are new lines and capacity expansion works that are extremely vital for the state's economy and connectivity. These include: Kharsia–Naya Raipur–Parmalkasa New Line (278 km), a ₹7,854 Crore project that will provide new connectivity to the eastern and central parts of the state; Raoghat–Jagdalpur New Line (140 km), a ₹3,513 Crore project that is a game-changer for establishing rail connectivity in the Naxal-affected Bastar region; Gevra Road–Pendra Road New Line (157 km), a ₹3,923 Crore line that will facilitate coal and mineral transport; and Kharsia–Parmalkasa 5th and 6th Lines (278 km), a ₹7,854 Crore project that will phenomenally increase freight carrying capacity and reduce congestion. Projects like Boridand–Ambikapur Doubling (80 km) and Bilaspur–Jharsuguda 4th Line (206 km) are also progressing rapidly.

The Minister also informed the House that a long-term roadmap has been prepared for the future rail network in Chhattisgarh. During the last three years (2022-23 to 2024-25) and the current financial year (2025-26), a total of 61 survey works (26 New Lines and 35 Doubling) covering a total length of 5,755 km falling wholly/partly in the state have been initiated, showcasing the plan for dense expansion of the rail network in the state.

The sanction of rail projects is based on a detailed analysis of important parameters such as anticipated traffic estimates, profitability, socio-economic importance, first and last-mile connectivity, and the expansion of congested lines. The Central Government is prioritizing these projects for the rapid development of Chhattisgarh.

RDJ/KRV/PJ

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