Dungarpur-Ratlam rail line: 646 hectares acquired, ₹243 crore spent
Synopsis
Only 646 of the 1,736 hectares needed for the Dungarpur-Ratlam rail corridor have been acquired — and land, provided free by Rajasthan under a 50:50 cost-share deal, remains the project's single biggest chokepoint. With ₹243 crore spent and 32 rail projects worth ₹47,498 crore active across the state, Rajasthan's rail build-out is ambitious; execution is the question.
Key Takeaways
The 189-km Ratlam-Banswara-Dungarpur railway line , costing ₹2,083 crore , has seen 646 of 1,736 hectares of land acquired as of 7 August 2026 . ₹243 crore has been spent on the project up to March 2026 ; it is funded on a 50:50 basis between the Centre and Rajasthan.
A DPR has been sanctioned for a new 380-km Nimach-Banswara-Dahod-Alirajpur-Nandurbar line , pending stakeholder consultations.
Rajasthan's railway budget has risen from ₹682 crore (2009-14 average) to ₹10,228 crore in 2026-27 — a nearly 15-fold increase.
32 rail projects covering 3,447 km and worth ₹47,498 crore are currently under implementation in the state.
The 189-km Ratlam-Banswara-Dungarpur new railway line, sanctioned at an estimated cost of ₹2,083 crore, is making measured progress with 646 hectares of land acquired out of the 1,736 hectares required, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply on 7 August. A total expenditure of ₹243 crore has been incurred on the project up to March 2026.
Project Structure and Funding
The line is being executed on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis between the Ministry of Railways and the Rajasthan Government. Under this arrangement, the state is responsible for providing land free of cost — a condition that has historically been a bottleneck for rail projects in the region. With roughly 37% of the required land acquired so far, land procurement remains the critical path for the project's timeline.
New DPR Sanctioned for Broader Connectivity
To further strengthen rail access in the Banswara region, the Railways has sanctioned a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a proposed 380-km Nimach-Banswara-Dahod-Alirajpur-Nandurbar new railway line. The project will be considered for formal sanction only after the DPR is complete and consultations are held with stakeholders — including the concerned state governments, NITI Aayog, and the Ministry of Finance.
Rajasthan's Railway Budget: A 15-Fold Rise
Minister Vaishnaw highlighted a sharp escalation in railway investment in Rajasthan. The state's annual railway budget allocation has surged from an average of ₹682 crore during 2009-14 to ₹10,228 crore in 2026-27 — nearly 15 times higher. Track commissioning has also accelerated: 3,886 km of new track was commissioned between 2014 and 2026, averaging 324 km per year, compared with 798 km at an average of 160 km annually during the preceding five-year period.
32 Projects Under Implementation Across the State
As of 1 April 2026, a total of 32 railway infrastructure projects — covering 3,447 km and involving an investment of ₹47,498 crore — are under implementation in Rajasthan. These include 15 new lines, 5 gauge conversion projects, and 12 doubling projects. Of these, 1,322 km have been commissioned, and ₹23,245 crore has been spent up to March 2026.
Recently completed projects include the Bina-Kota doubling, Dausa-Gangapur City doubling, Phulera-Degana doubling, Alwar-Bandikui doubling, and the Jaipur-Churu gauge conversion. Major ongoing works include the Pushkar-Merta, Taranga Hill-Abu Road, Ramganjmandi-Bhopal, Sawai Madhopur-Jaipur doubling, Luni-Bhildi doubling, and the Nagda-Mathura third and fourth line projects.
Challenges Ahead
Vaishnaw acknowledged that timely completion depends on several factors beyond the Railways' direct control, including land acquisition, forest and statutory clearances, shifting of utilities, geological conditions, law and order, and the working season available at project sites. For the Dungarpur-Ratlam corridor — which passes through tribal-dominated terrain — these constraints are particularly relevant. The project's trajectory will ultimately hinge on how quickly Rajasthan can complete the remaining land handover.
Point of View
Making its delay more than a logistics problem. With barely 37% of required land in hand and no completion timeline disclosed, the project exemplifies a pattern across Indian rail: sanctioned ambition, sluggish land transfer. The 15-fold budget jump is a genuine headline, but Rajasthan's track record on timely land handover — a state obligation under the cost-share formula — will determine whether that money translates into track. The DPR for the 380-km Nimach-Nandurbar extension risks adding pipeline complexity before the primary corridor is even half-built.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ratlam-Banswara-Dungarpur railway line project?
It is a proposed 189-km new railway line connecting Ratlam , Banswara , and Dungarpur , sanctioned at an estimated cost of ₹2,083 crore . The project is funded equally by the Centre and the Rajasthan Government, with the state responsible for providing land free of cost.
How much land has been acquired for the project so far?
646 hectares out of the total 1,736 hectares required have been acquired as of the latest update provided to the Rajya Sabha on 7 August . This represents roughly 37% of the land needed, with acquisition still ongoing.
What is the Nimach-Banswara-Dahod-Alirajpur-Nandurbar railway line?
It is a proposed 380-km new railway line for which a Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been sanctioned by the Railways. The project will be considered for formal approval only after the DPR is finalised and consultations with state governments, NITI Aayog, and the Ministry of Finance are completed.
How has Rajasthan's railway budget changed in recent years?
Rajasthan's annual railway budget allocation has risen from an average of ₹682 crore during 2009-14 to ₹10,228 crore in 2026-27 — nearly 15 times higher, according to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's statement in the Rajya Sabha.
How many railway projects are currently active in Rajasthan?
As of 1 April 2026 , 32 railway infrastructure projects covering 3,447 km and involving a total investment of ₹47,498 crore are under implementation in Rajasthan. Of these, 1,322 km have been commissioned and ₹23,245 crore spent up to March 2026.
