Are 38 Railway Projects Worth Rs 89,780 Crore Approved in Maharashtra?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 38 railway projects approved in Maharashtra.
- Total length of 5,098 km for the projects.
- Investment of Rs 89,780 crore.
- High-Speed Bullet Train project is underway.
- Expansion of capacity for Mumbai suburban area.
New Delhi, Dec 20 (NationPress) The government has approved a total of 38 railway initiatives in Maharashtra, comprising 11 new lines, 2 gauge conversions, and 25 doubling projects. These developments cover a cumulative length of 5,098 kilometers and represent an investment of Rs 89,780 crore as of April 1, 2025.
Throughout the past three fiscal years — 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, and the current financial year 2025-26 — the government has sanctioned 98 surveys (including 29 for new lines, 2 for gauge conversion, and 67 for doubling) encompassing a total of 8,603 km that either wholly or partially lie within Maharashtra.
According to a statement from the Railways Ministry, the construction of the prominent High-Speed Bullet Train project is advancing rapidly, with 100 percent of land acquisition now finalized. Construction work on essential infrastructures such as bridges and aqueducts is underway.
Moreover, extension projects for platforms at 34 stations are in progress to accommodate 15-car EMUs.
To enhance capacity in the Mumbai suburban area, several projects have been authorized: the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)-II costing Rs 8,087 crore, MUTP-III at Rs 10,947 crore, and MUTP-IIIA valued at Rs 33,690 crore.
To further augment passenger capacity, 238 rakes consisting of 12 cars each with doors have been approved under MUTP-III and MUTP-IIIA, costing a total of Rs 19,293 crore. The procurement process for these rakes is currently underway.
Additionally, the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) traverses Maharashtra, with approximately 178 route km — nearly 12 percent of its total length — located in the state. The ministry has indicated that around 76 km of the project, stretching from New Gholvad to New Vaitarna, has been commissioned, with further works actively in progress. The connection of WDFC to JNPT is expected to significantly enhance the capacity for handling cargo and container traffic from the port to Delhi NCR.
Currently, about 120 originating Mail/Express trains and approximately 3,200 suburban trains operate daily in the Mumbai region.