Indian Railways Thread (Dec 2015)

[Mollick.R]

Cabinet Approves 3 Railway Projects Worth Rs 23,437 Crore Across 6 States

May 05, 2026 21:07 pm IST

New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved three railway projects worth Rs 23,437 crore across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, increasing the existing network of Indian Railways by 901 km.

These projects include the Nagda-Mathura 3rd and 4th Line; Guntakal-Wadi 3rd and 4th Line; and Burhwal-Sitapur 3rd and 4th Line, and are expected to be completed up to 2030-31.

According to an official statement, the proposed multi-tracking project would enhance connectivity to about 4,161 villages with a population of about 83 lakh.

The proposed capacity enhancement will improve rail connectivity to several prominent tourist destinations across the country, including Mahakaleshwar, Ranthambore National Park, Kuno National Park, Keoladeo National Park, Mathura, Vrindavan, Mantralayam (Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt), Sri Nettikanti Anjaneya Swamy Vari Temple (Kasapuram), Shyamnath Temple and Naimisharanya (Neemsar), etc.

These are also essential routes for transportation of commodities such as coal, foodgrains, cement, POL, iron and steel, iron ore, containers, fertilisers, etc.

The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 60 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum).

The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways.

These multi-tracking proposals are poised to streamline operations and alleviate congestion.

The projects are planned on the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan with a focus on enhancing multi-modal connectivity and logistic efficiency through integrated planning and stakeholder consultations.

These projects will help both in achieving climate goals and minimising logistics cost of the country, reduce oil import (37 crore litres) and lower CO2 emissions (185 crore kg), which is equivalent to the plantation of seven crore trees.

These projects will provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services, said the statement.


https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cabinet ... s-11453542

[ritesh]

Does the austerity program of the PM doesn't include dropping such vanity projects?
https://m.economictimes.com/industry/tr ... 064659.cms

India’s first indigenous 200-kmph Ahmedabad-Dholera rail corridor worth Rs 20,667 crore gets Cabinet nod

[rajkumar]

Does the austerity program of the PM doesn't include dropping such vanity projects?
https://m.economictimes.com/industry/tr ... 064659.cms

India’s first indigenous 200-kmph Ahmedabad-Dholera rail corridor worth Rs 20,667 crore gets Cabinet nod

Infrastructure is not a vanity project. if you look at the way GoI dealt with Covid then they accelerated capex investment rather than giving freebies that Western government did

[ritesh]

Does the austerity program of the PM doesn't include dropping such vanity projects?
https://m.economictimes.com/industry/tr ... 064659.cms

India’s first indigenous 200-kmph Ahmedabad-Dholera rail corridor worth Rs 20,667 crore gets Cabinet nod

Infrastructure is not a vanity project. if you look at the way GoI dealt with Covid then they accelerated capex investment rather than giving freebies that Western government did

This is from Google...
As of 2026, the existing Dholera village has a small population (~2,779 in 2011), but the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) is undergoing massive development to become a smart city. It is projected to accommodate a population of over 2 million residents by 2042, driven by industrial growth and economic opportunities

This is a ghost town rite now, is slated to be fully developed in 2042. Then why so hurry to build? This looks like going the GIFT city way. Utter waste of monies.

This is same govt which refused to double konkan railways but poured billions to make kasmir link. What kind of priority is this?

[rajkumar]

This is same govt which refused to double konkan railways but poured billions to make kasmir link. What kind of priority is this?

Kashmir is a strategic requirement for the 'Idea of India' and as much GoI needs to spend money on it. Dholera will more than pay for this Capex investment...will doubling of konkan railways have a RoI?

[S_Madhukar]

This seems to be part of Guj Olympics 2036 agenda. Just like Tokyo Olympics of 60s when they launched Bullet trains .
Also in Guj he has no land issues whereas everywhere libbys will protest.

Konkan railways the joke has been was made for Kannadigas and Mallus and Konkanis were mere travellers. Not sure how true but until Konkanis encourage industry or tourism there can’t be that much justification to expand capacity. Fixing the Mumbai Goa highway will go a long way i think. Also additional lines are being added around Panvel adjacent to greater Mumbai area.

My biggest personal pet peeve is unless I get quality Hapus/ Alphonso mangoes every year i won’t support doubling the line.

[S_Madhukar]

Just note that 20K crore of that new railways costs same as a SSBN

[ritesh]

This seems to be part of Guj Olympics 2036 agenda. Just like Tokyo Olympics of 60s when they launched Bullet trains .
Also in Guj he has no land issues whereas everywhere libbys will protest.

I am sorry, don't understand the logic behind this assertion of yours. A city which is only going to be fully developed by 2042, how can then it be helpful for an event happening 6 yrs earlier?

Konkan railways the joke has been was made for Kannadigas and Mallus and Konkanis were mere travellers. Not sure how true but until Konkanis encourage industry or tourism there can’t be that much justification to expand capacity. Fixing the Mumbai Goa highway will go a long way i think. Also additional lines are being added around Panvel adjacent to greater Mumbai area.

Did you know, there are 12 plus dedicated mail express, most daily and rest 3 times or lesser per week for konkan and goa while Mangalore gets 2 daily trains and rest which go through to Kerala which are 365 days running full. So, how can you complain of services?

[S_Madhukar]

I think complaints are usually around overcrowding at specific times like Ganpati or Holi or Diwali festivals.

RE:Guj the aspiration is a Bikasit Guj or Shining Guj will be a great advertisement to bring Olympics to India. GIFT city is another example so that there is all the incentive to bring the glitterati and investors… but yeah like the Bullet train every thing seems delayed !

[ritesh]

I think complaints are usually around overcrowding at specific times like Ganpati or Holi or Diwali festivals.

RE:Guj the aspiration is a Bikasit Guj or Shining Guj will be a great advertisement to bring Olympics to India. GIFT city is another example so that there is all the incentive to bring the glitterati and investors… but yeah like the Bullet train every thing seems delayed !

Saar, as a Indian don't have any issue with whatever gets build as the nation was starved of basic infrastructure for long. However, if then the govt or specific minister starts giving frivolous excuses, then you start thinking what's going on.

3 major coastal regions of these states rely on Konkan rail line and its running at or over capacity so much so that even rajdhanis gets an hr or two late during its transit from here. The erstwhile RM Shri Suresh Prabhu had ordered for doubling, which after him remitting the post has been unnecessarily stayed for no particular reason.

If goods traffic is such an important consideration then why does this not apply for other section?

[S_Madhukar]

Any idea on land acquisition? That’s usually the issue

[chetak]

Dwarka rail line one of the most beautiful in India.

This is being doubled right now to allow for more tourism & goods

[ritesh]

Any idea on land acquisition? That’s usually the issue

It's under DPR stage saar!

From googly
Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) is actively preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to double a 263 km stretch of the 739 km route to ease severe congestion.

[ritesh]

Dwarka rail line one of the most beautiful in India.

This is being doubled right now to allow for more tourism & goods

What abt CRZ approval?

[uddu]

https://x.com/i/status/2059194755461058611
@Lolita_TNIE
This post is for everyone wondering why the #tatkal tickets on the
@IRCTCofficial
website get sold out so quickly as soon as it opens for the public. I used to cover #Railway beat in Bengaluru earlier. Inside sources gave me this shocking info. Since I did not have documentary proof, I could not get the report printed on paper:
1. The rly clerks have an understanding with tkt booking agents. They have details of those who want tatkal tickets. The minute the clerk logs in for duty, they hurriedly key in these details and book the ticket in the names handed over. The agent and the clerk allegedly benefit from it by taking money from the the psgr desperate for a confirmed tkts.
2. I also heard of this peculiar instance at Bengaluru Cantonment rly station wherein a lady clerk takes a specific auto to work daily. The agent slyly hands over the names and details of those who shd be given the tatkal tkts for the day . This ensures the agent and the clerk are never seen colluding together. And no CCTV can capture all this.
Unless top railway officials or cops do an undercover operation, this scam will never come to light.
Genuine ppl trying to book tatkal tickets can never get them. This scenario in just one rly station will definitely be replicated by unscrupulous agents across the rly stations in the country with unscrupulous railway clerks. Why are representatives of agents hanging around rly tkt booking counters daily despite so much brought online? Ask yourself...why is the govt rly police allowing these known faces to linger on daily?
However, transparent the government tries to make a system, some ppl will always find loopholes to exploit it.

@AshwiniVaishnaw

@RailMinIndia

[uddu]

https://x.com/i/status/2059245076862452194
@rishibagree
This is how Ramon Magsaysay Award-winning journalist peddles his Agenda

[Sachin]

https://x.com/i/status/2059194755461058611

May be off-topic. This story was told to me by a friend who worked (and now retired) from the railways. His theory was that "A person who is corrupt, will figure out a way to get bribes". He gave an example. There was this clerk who used to work in the passenger reservation system. And he used to collude with agents, take bribe and then issue tickets to the agents. The railways decided to move him to another job; this time he was asked to work in the parcel booking office. There too he soon figured out a way to take bribes either to send contraband goods, or to ensure that the parcels left on the proper train. Finally the railways decided to make him work on the enquiry and public announcement section - where he only had to make timely announcements of train arrivals and departures and other general information. The railways thought that; this time the clerk was stumped. All of a sudden, the PA system in the railway station started giving announcements on the railway approved rates for availing porter services. How much was the charge per kilo gram etc. Soon this led to arguments between the porters and passengers, as earlier the porters could quote what ever charges they wished. One fine morning, this rate announcement was stopped. How? The porters approached the clerk, the clerk quoted a figure as his bribe which the porters paid up.

[S_Madhukar]

TVTokyo shows how Indians are being trained on the Shinkansen in Japan. They are driving actual trains on actual route with their mentors. This is a partial video but good to see they are learning the pointing system and being trained on the simulators as well.



The whole video is behind a paywall.

https://txbiz.tv-tokyo.co.jp/original2/ ... 3aUiT3ap-k

[uddu]

https://x.com/poojaofficial5/status/2063469850060812596
@poojaofficial5
Everything looked normal at the crowded railway station

Then a young man quietly handed two ₹500 notes to the TTE.

But the story didn’t end there
The TTE asked him for even more money.

After that, the cash was passed to another TTE,

who quickly slipped the notes into his pocket
and looked around nervously,
as if avoiding the camera was more important than honesty.

What they didn’t know was
their every move was already being recorded.

A few seconds later,

the same young man comfortably boarded the train

and the whole story became clear without a single word being spoken.

The saddest part is not the bribe itself,

the saddest part is that people have started treating it as "normal."

Tell me
should strict action be taken against such people or not ?

[uddu]

https://x.com/i/status/2059194755461058611

May be off-topic. This story was told to me by a friend who worked (and now retired) from the railways. His theory was that "A person who is corrupt, will figure out a way to get bribes".

Yogi style treatment is needed for every corrupt govt employee. Modi way of Gandhian ways will not work.

[S_Madhukar]

May be off-topic. This story was told to me by a friend who worked (and now retired) from the railways. His theory was that "A person who is corrupt, will figure out a way to get bribes".

Yogi style treatment is needed for every corrupt govt employee. Modi way of Gandhian ways will not work.

We want to give jobs and people want sarkari jobs. I wonder if honesty becomes prevalent how many will want these jobs
But some examples should be set.

[sumsumne]

Indian Railways has electrified 99.6% of its Broad Gauge network, with only 269 route kilometres (RKM) remaining across five states.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india ... -10728120/

[Supratik]

The Ahmd Dholera rail line is going to be India's first semi high speed corridor where trains will run at 200 kmph average. I think the legacy lines are no longer going to be upgraded beyond 160 kmph. Understandable as it may be difficult. The second category of semi high speed trains are getting built. This is an upgrade over VB trains. They will be tested on this line. Hence the high cost. Besides Dholera becoming a semi conductor and industrial hub will require rail connectivity.

[S_Madhukar]

I would never have thought that even suburban rail outside Mumbai would need so many tunnels. Good job to all !

[ritesh]

I would never have thought that even suburban rail outside Mumbai would need so many tunnels. Good job to all !

Madhurkar ji, what is the use case of such lines when CR is not able to put the existing lines into use properly. Spending so much capex on this instead of Rail bhavan doubling the Vasai Panvel section which sees huge crowding is baffling to say the least.

[ritesh]

The Ahmd Dholera rail line is going to be India's first semi high speed corridor where trains will run at 200 kmph average. I think the legacy lines are no longer going to be upgraded beyond 160 kmph. Understandable as it may be difficult. The second category of semi high speed trains are getting built. This is an upgrade over VB trains. They will be tested on this line. Hence the high cost. Besides Dholera becoming a semi conductor and industrial hub will require rail connectivity.

It's an vanity project, a line to nowhere.

Why not prioritising signal upgradation on mainline which is going on at snail pace?

[S_Madhukar]

I would never have thought that even suburban rail outside Mumbai would need so many tunnels. Good job to all !

Madhurkar ji, what is the use case of such lines when CR is not able to put the existing lines into use properly. Spending so much capex on this instead of Rail bhavan doubling the Vasai Panvel section which sees huge crowding is baffling to say the least.

My uneducated guess is they are hoping metro will provide that extra capacity. Although looking at the map that is an insane travel corridor … my guess is along with other eastern metro lines and proposed gold line it should take care of it that ? … in north west mumbai it has apparently reduced some suburban train traffic but then until all metros start and link up no ones knows

The Panvel Karjat may just have been easier and faster so they went ahead and had some international funding. Politicians might also be interested in the greenfield real estate there.

[Supratik]

Ritesh

It is not either or. Everything is being done simultaneously with a 20 year vision.

[Supratik]

The new semi high speed trains are going to be tested on this line. You cannot do it on legacy lines.

Here is the break up as I understand it.

VBs for legacy lines 160 kmph
Upgraded semi high speed. Need new lines 200 kmph
B28 bullet train
B35 bullet train possibly for fast end to end connectivity

Modi does not do vanity projects.

[S_Madhukar]

Indeed… once they test it in Dholera expect these lines on tier 2 cities like Pune-Nasik-Mumbai triangle and others . Greenfield lines needed for new signals and tracks.
Similar setup in most developed countries plus they will find it easier to fund such greenfield projects.

I think the UT Maharashtra bullet train example has convinced him to focus more on Guj to test risky projects where he has absolute control

[Supratik]

Yes both roadways and railways have reached budget saturation i.e. they are unable to use more funds for existing projects. But the budget will continue to increase. So extra money can be used for expressways, green field semi high speed and bullet trains.

[Vayutuvan]

I would never have thought that even suburban rail outside Mumbai would need so many tunnels. Good job to all !

Madhurkar ji, what is the use case of such lines when CR is not able to put the existing lines into use properly.

How Will The Forthcoming Panvel-Karjat Railway Line Impact The Navi Mumbai Real Estate Market?

https://www.ghar.tv/blog/how-will-the-f ... t/artid701

The motivation could be financial as well as to increase the land available for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to grow.

According to Chandan P, a renowned real estate adviser in Navi Mumbai, the completion of this infrastructure-critical infra project would make available property in this area that is almost similar in size to land in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The doubling of this passenger train track bodes well for residential, commercial, and industrial property in Navi Mumbai. This last-mile connector would expeditiously improve connectivity with South Mumbai. The expected journey time will be reduced to 30 minutes, supporting the development of several real estate micromarkets along that corridor. In addition, this connectivity will make a vast area of land available for development, promoting the decentralisation of commercial centres with a ripple impact on residential and social development.

[ritesh]

Madhurkar ji, what is the use case of such lines when CR is not able to put the existing lines into use properly.

How Will The Forthcoming Panvel-Karjat Railway Line Impact The Navi Mumbai Real Estate Market?

https://www.ghar.tv/blog/how-will-the-f ... t/artid701

The motivation could be financial as well as to increase the land available for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to grow.

Actually speaking, Navi Mumbai growth and development is all thanks to pawarful party who have been in the govt over past 2 decades continuously. But this has come at the cost of other MMR cities of Thane, KDMC, MBMC and VVMC. All the funds and total attention of CIDCO has been concentrated on NMMC while rest have been overlooked.

There is another aspect, while demand was coming for this line as alternate route to Pune via Karjat as shorter route and direct connectivity from CSMT to Karjat, however they link created would terminate at Panvel and commuters will have to change locals. And at present other than Pragat express this route being single line at present is sole regular mail express trains utilising it.

[S_Madhukar]

Hmm… well at least they have the tracks in place. Will be interesting to see how the various termini shapes up. I wonder if CST should only be for northern routes while eastern routes should have their own termini in Kurla/Panvel/ Vashi/Thane.
No easy answers specially now with HSR and semi-HSR demands. Will be pain if HSR is from Thane only. I am sure more tunnels and bridges can solve that but I will be too old by then !

[rajkumar]

One Nation One Gauge

For decades, Indian Railways operated with multiple gauges that created delays, inefficiencies and massive logistics bottlenecks. Then came Project Unigauge — a railway transformation programme that quietly converted over 21,000 km of metre and narrow gauge lines into broad gauge, creating the unified railway network we know today.