Indian Railways approves ₹990 crore capacity boost in Maharashtra, Telangana
Synopsis
Indian Railways has cleared ₹990 crore worth of infrastructure work in Maharashtra and on the Telangana border — doubling the 10.86 km Chouk-Karjat section and laying a fresh 38.21 km line from Mukutban to Gadchandur. Together, the projects promise 18.35 MTPA in new freight capacity on one corridor and relief for congested coal and cement routes on the other.
Key Takeaways
Indian Railways approved two projects worth a combined ₹990 crore on 18 September 2026 .
The Chouk-Karjat section doubling ( 10.86 km , ₹497 crore ) will add five passenger trains per direction daily and 18.35 MTPA of freight capacity.
A new 38.21 km rail line between Mukutban (Yavatmal) and Gadchandur (Chandrapur) is sanctioned at ₹493 crore under South Central Railway.
The Mukutban-Gadchandur line will carry 6.08 MTPA of freight and support two MEMU trains per direction daily.
The new line will decongest the existing Wardha-Manikgarh section and cut freight distances to Jalna, Parbhani , and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar .
Indian Railways on Friday, 18 September 2026, approved two major infrastructure projects worth a combined ₹990 crore to expand passenger and freight capacity in Maharashtra and on the Maharashtra-Telangana border. The projects cover a 10.86 km doubling of the Chouk-Karjat section and a new 38.21 km rail line between Mukutban and Gadchandur, together aimed at easing congestion on key industrial and passenger corridors.
Chouk-Karjat Doubling: Key Details
The Chouk-Karjat railway section doubling, approved at a cost of ₹497 crore, falls under Central Railway and forms part of the strategically significant Panvel-Chouk-Karjat corridor. According to an official statement, this corridor handles substantial both passenger and freight traffic. The project is part of a broader package of doubling, tripling, quadrupling, flyover, and bypass works on Central Railway aimed at augmenting network capacity.
Once completed, the upgraded section is expected to accommodate five additional passenger trains in each direction per day. On the freight side, it is projected to support an additional 18.35 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) of freight movement, while also reducing the detention time of freight trains — a persistent bottleneck on this corridor.
Mukutban-Gadchandur New Rail Line
The second project — a new 38.21 km rail line connecting Mukutban in Yavatmal district and Gadchandur in Chandrapur district — has been sanctioned at ₹493 crore under the South Central Railway zone. Both stations serve as gateways to major industrial and mining clusters, including several cement plants, Western Coalfields Ltd. coal mines, and nearby limestone quarries.
The new line is expected to carry 6.08 MTPA of freight traffic and support two MEMU trains in each direction daily after commissioning. Commodities expected to move on this route include coal and coke, cement, sponge iron, metal scrap, iron and steel, fertilisers, and foodgrains, among others.
Industrial and Connectivity Impact
A key operational benefit is that the Mukutban-Gadchandur line will provide an alternative to the currently congested Wardha-Manikgarh section, offering a shorter, more efficient freight route. According to officials, the line will establish direct connectivity between the coal and cement cluster and the Majri-Nanded route, enabling shorter freight leads for coal, cement, and RMSP traffic toward Jalna, Parbhani, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and other destinations in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
This comes amid a sustained push by the Centre to modernise rail infrastructure ahead of freight and passenger demand growth projected through 2030. Notably, the Chouk-Karjat corridor's capacity enhancement directly supports suburban and semi-urban passenger connectivity in Maharashtra's Konkan region, complementing ongoing upgrades to the Mumbai metropolitan rail network.
What Comes Next
Timelines for completion of both projects have not yet been officially announced. Industry bodies in the cement and mining sectors are expected to benefit most immediately from the Mukutban-Gadchandur line, while commuters on the Panvel-Karjat route stand to gain from faster and more frequent train services once the doubling work is completed.
Point of View
While bundling passenger benefits to broaden political appeal. The real question is execution pace — India's railway capex announcements routinely outrun actual commissioning timelines. The Mukutban-Gadchandur line in particular serves a resource-rich but infrastructure-thin belt where delay has historically cost industrial competitiveness. Whether these projects hit their freight projections will depend on land acquisition speed and WCL's operational alignment — factors that past corridor projects have struggled with.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two railway projects approved by Indian Railways in September 2026?
Indian Railways approved the doubling of the 10.86 km Chouk-Karjat section under Central Railway at ₹497 crore, and a new 38.21 km rail line between Mukutban and Gadchandur under South Central Railway at ₹493 crore. Both projects target passenger and freight capacity improvements in Maharashtra.
How will the Chouk-Karjat doubling benefit passengers and freight?
Once complete, the Chouk-Karjat doubling will enable five additional passenger trains in each direction per day on the Panvel-Karjat corridor. It is also projected to add 18.35 MTPA of freight capacity and reduce delays for freight trains on that route.
Which industries does the Mukutban-Gadchandur rail line serve?
The new line serves major industrial clusters in Yavatmal and Chandrapur districts, including cement plants, Western Coalfields Ltd. coal mines, and limestone quarries. Key commodities expected to move on the route include coal, cement, sponge iron, iron and steel, fertilisers, and foodgrains.
How will the Mukutban-Gadchandur line ease congestion?
The new line offers an alternative to the congested Wardha-Manikgarh section, providing a shorter route for coal and cement traffic toward Jalna, Parbhani, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and other Maharashtra and Karnataka destinations. It is expected to reduce both transportation time and associated costs.
What is the total cost of the two Indian Railways projects approved in Maharashtra?
The combined cost of the two projects is approximately ₹990 crore — ₹497 crore for the Chouk-Karjat doubling and ₹493 crore for the Mukutban-Gadchandur new rail line.
