Indian Railways Approves Major Projects Across India to Enhance Capacity, Safety, and Operational Efficiency

New Delhi, Feb 09, 2026, PIB

Indian Railways has approved a comprehensive set of rail infrastructure projects aimed at eliminating congestion, enhancing line capacity, improving safety systems, and enabling faster, more reliable passenger and freight movement across the country. These approvals span Southern, Northern and South Eastern Railways, covering line doubling, third and fourth lines, bypass corridors, and advanced electronic interlocking systems.Barbenda–Damrughutu Doubling & Damrughutu–Bokaro Steel City 3rd & 4th Lines: ₹815.32 crore Barbenda–Damrughutu Doubling and Damrughutu–Bokaro Steel City 3rd & 4th Lines in Jharkhand are major capacity expansion projects under South Eastern Railway and a cornerstone of India’s Energy, Mineral, and Cement Corridor. Currently, the line operates at 108% utilisation, with train detention ranging between 90-150 minutes, handling 78 trains daily (38 passenger and 40 freight) and supporting a freight throughput of 35.22 MTPA. Without intervention, utilisation was projected to reach 132% by 2028–29.The project strengthens connectivity to key industrial and energy hubs, including Central Coalfields, cement and steel plants, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited Depot, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited Depot, and the Bokaro Steel City industrial ecosystem. By enhancing capacity, the expansion will directly improve energy logistics, industrial output, and the efficiency of national supply chains.Electronic Interlocking on High-Density Network (HDN) and Highly Utilized Network (HUN) Routes: ₹421.41 crore