Maharashtra to eliminate all railway level crossings, 65 projects cleared in first phase
Synopsis
Maharashtra has approved 65 rail infrastructure projects in the first phase of a 131-work programme, with CM Devendra Fadnavis mandating zero railway level crossings across the entire state. The push covers overbridges, underpasses, and foot overbridges — funded through HUDCO — and signals one of the most sweeping rail safety and urban mobility drives the state has undertaken.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis chaired a MahaRail meeting on Monday, 8 June where 65 projects were approved in phase one of 131 total proposed works .
Fadnavis directed that not a single railway level crossing should remain on any route across Maharashtra .
Priority among approved projects will go to roads with TVU traffic of 25,000–1,00,000 requiring minimal land acquisition.
80 additional railway infrastructure projects are planned across various cities to address rapid urbanisation.
Funding will be sourced from HUDCO , with Fadnavis urging alternative financing to reduce the state's interest burden.
A new railway overbridge is to be built on the Amravati-Badnera route, replacing an existing old structure.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday chaired a high-level meeting of the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MahaRail), where 65 projects were approved in the first phase of a total 131 proposed works aimed at making the state completely free of railway level crossings.
The Zero Level Crossing Mandate
CM Fadnavis issued a clear directive: not a single railway level crossing should remain on any railway route across Maharashtra. 'Infrastructure should be developed to achieve a level-crossing-free Maharashtra,' he stated at the meeting.
The approved projects cover the construction of railway overbridges, foot overbridges, and road underpasses on roads under the jurisdiction of the Public Works and Urban Development departments, all to be executed by MahaRail.
Priority Projects and Traffic Thresholds
Among the 65 approved projects, Fadnavis directed that priority be assigned to roads with Train Vehicle Unit (TVU) traffic ranging from 25,000 to 1,00,000 and those requiring minimal land acquisition. This prioritisation is designed to maximise citizen benefit while minimising execution delays.
Separately, 80 railway infrastructure projects have been planned across various cities in view of increasing urbanisation around railway corridors in metropolitan areas.
Governance and Oversight Structure
The Chief Minister directed that committees comprising concerned Municipal Commissioners and District Collectors be constituted for city-level projects. These committees will verify the necessity and feasibility of each proposed work before MahaRail proceeds with execution.
Fadnavis also directed that the process of bringing MahaRail under the administrative control of the Public Works Department be expedited, and that payments for completed works be released promptly by the state government.
Financing and HUDCO Role
For funding these infrastructure projects, the Chief Minister indicated that loans will be sourced from HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation). He further suggested that HUDCO explore alternative financing arrangements beyond bank borrowings, assess market competition, and work to reduce the interest burden on loans extended to the state government.
Specific Directives and Future Planning
Fadnavis flagged that the flyover constructed in Nagpur city could face traffic congestion at intersections due to rising vehicular volumes, and called for pre-emptive measures. He also directed that a new railway overbridge be constructed on the Amravati-Badnera route, where an old overbridge currently stands. MahaRail has been asked to implement all projects in phases based on priority.
With urbanisation accelerating along railway corridors, the state government aims to have essential infrastructure in place even before peak demand materialises.
Point of View
But the real test lies in execution: land acquisition bottlenecks and inter-departmental coordination have derailed similar infrastructure pushes before. Routing funding through HUDCO rather than the state budget introduces a layer of financial discipline, but also debt servicing risk if project timelines slip. The directive to constitute district-level committees is sensible, but without hard deadlines and public accountability, it risks becoming another layer of bureaucracy rather than a genuine accelerant.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Maharashtra's plan to eliminate railway level crossings?
Maharashtra plans to replace all railway level crossings across the state with overbridges, underpasses, and foot overbridges under a programme managed by MahaRail. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed that not a single level crossing should remain on any railway route in the state.
How many projects were approved in the MahaRail meeting on 8 June?
65 projects were approved in the first phase out of a total of 131 proposed works. Priority will be given to roads with Train Vehicle Unit traffic between 25,000 and 1,00,000 that require minimal land acquisition.
Who will fund the Maharashtra railway infrastructure projects?
The projects will be financed through loans from HUDCO. CM Fadnavis has asked HUDCO to explore alternative financing arrangements beyond bank borrowings to reduce the interest burden on the state government.
What role will Municipal Commissioners and District Collectors play?
Committees comprising Municipal Commissioners and District Collectors will be constituted for city-level projects. These committees will verify the necessity and feasibility of proposed works before MahaRail undertakes execution.
What specific infrastructure directive was issued for Amravati-Badnera?
CM Fadnavis directed that a new railway overbridge be constructed on the Amravati-Badnera route, where an old railway overbridge currently exists, as part of the broader infrastructure upgrade drive.
