In a significant step towards strengthening regional rail connectivity and facilitating faster and more efficient movement of passengers and freight, Indian Railways has approved the construction of the 38.21 km new rail line between Mukutban (Adilabad) and Gadchandur in South Central Railway at a cost of ₹493 crore.

Strengthening Connectivity to Industrial and Mining Centres

Mukutban in Yavatmal district and Gadchandur in Chandrapur district are important industrial and mining centres, serving several cement plants, coal mines of Western Coalfields Ltd. and nearby limestone mines. The new rail line will strengthen rail connectivity to these industrial clusters and facilitate more efficient movement of freight.

Shorter Route to Improve Freight Movement and Decongest Existing Network

The new rail line will provide a shorter and more efficient rail route, reducing travel distance, transportation time and associated costs. It will also provide an alternative route to decongest the existing Wardha-Manikgarh section, supporting smoother movement of freight traffic.

As per the Detailed Project Report, the project is expected to support 6.08 MTPA of freight traffic, along with two MEMU trains in each direction per day after commissioning. The freight traffic is expected to include coal and coke, cement, sponge iron, metal scrap, iron & steel, fertilisers and foodgrains, among other commodities.

Direct Connectivity to Majri-Nanded Route and Key Destinations

The new line will provide direct connectivity between the coal and cement cluster and the Majri-Nanded route, facilitating shorter leads for coal, cement and RMSP traffic towards Jalna, Parbhani, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and other destinations in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Reducing Dependence on Congested Balharshah-Nagpur Route

The project will reduce dependence on the congested Balharshah-Nagpur High-Density Network (HDN) route, while improving rail connectivity to the relatively less-connected areas of Yavatmal and Chandrapur districts. This will support industrial and economic development in the region through enhanced rail infrastructure.

Strengthening Regional Rail Infrastructure

The new rail line will add capacity to the regional railway network, facilitate movement of essential commodities and provide an additional rail corridor for growing freight and passenger requirements. The project is expected to contribute to more efficient utilisation of the existing railway network while supporting industrial and regional economic activity.

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Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Ritu Raj