14 February 2026·PIB

Cabinet approves three multitracking projects covering 12 Districts across the states of Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra and Karnataka, increasing the existing network of Indian Railways by about 389 Kms

In this note

1. At a Glance

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM, approved 3 Ministry of Railways multitracking projects adding ~389 km to IR network at ~₹18,509 crore, completion by 2030-31 [1][2].
Covers 12 districts across 4 states — Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka [1].
Relevant for GS-III (Infrastructure) and Prelims (PM Gati Shakti, modal-share shift to rail, decarbonisation of transport).

Projects align with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (2021) for multimodal connectivity and integrated planning [1].
Part of a series of CCEA-cleared multitracking batches (e.g., 901 km / 6 states; 307 km / 4 states; 318 km / 3 states) flowing from the National Rail Plan (NRP) Vision 2030 push to raise rail freight modal share to ~45% [1].
Doubling/quadrupling of saturated trunk routes is the chosen mode to decongest sections operating beyond 100% line capacity.

Approving body: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) [1].
Implementing ministry: Ministry of Railways [1].
Total cost: ~₹18,509 crore [1][2].
Length added: ~389 km [1].
States/Districts: Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka — 12 districts [1].
Completion target: FY 2030-31 [1].
Employment generation: ~265 lakh human-days during construction [1].
Connectivity coverage: ~3,902 villages, population ~97 lakh [1].
Three projects: (i) Kasara–Manmad 3rd & 4th line (Maharashtra), (ii) Delhi–Haryana (Delhi–Ambala corridor) 3rd/4th line, (iii) Karnataka section (Ballari–Hosapete area) 3rd/4th line [1][2].
Freight commodities served: coal, steel, iron ore, cement, limestone/bauxite, containers, foodgrains, sugar, fertilisers, POL [1].
Tourist nodes benefited: Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, Bhavli Dam, Shri Ghatandevi, Hampi (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Vijaya Vittala Temple [1].

Economic

Decongests saturated freight corridors; reduces logistics cost (India targets sub-10% of GDP under National Logistics Policy 2022) [1].
~265 lakh person-days of direct employment, largely rural/construction [1].

Environmental

Estimated oil-import reduction of ~22 crore litres; CO₂ abatement of ~111 crore kg, equivalent to planting ~4 crore trees (figures cited by Railways for multitracking class projects) [2].
Rail freight is ~4× more energy-efficient than road haulage — supports India's NDC and Net-Zero by 2070 target.

Administrative / Governance

Projects appraised under PM Gati Shakti NMP for integrated planning across modes [1].
Centrally funded (Ministry of Railways gross budgetary support); execution by zonal railways (Central Railway, Northern Railway, South Western Railway).

Strategic

Delhi–Ambala strengthens northern military/logistics axis (sensitive to Punjab/J&K mobilisation).
Ballari–Hosapete is a critical iron-ore evacuation corridor feeding ports and steel plants.
Kasara–Manmad decongests Mumbai–Howrah/Mumbai–Delhi trunk via Bhusawal.

14 Feb 2026: Present approval — 389 km / ₹18,509 cr / 4 states [1].
Preceding CCEA approvals: 901 km across 6 states (MP, Rajasthan, UP, Karnataka, AP, Telangana); 307 km across Maharashtra, MP, Bihar, Jharkhand; 318 km across Jharkhand, Karnataka, AP — illustrating sustained multitracking pipeline [1].

Approving authority: CCEA, not Union Cabinet plenary [1].
Date of approval: 13 February 2026; PIB release 14 Feb 2026 [1].
Total cost: ₹18,509 crore [1].
Length added: 389 km, across 12 districts in 4 states [1].
States covered: Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka (mnemonic: D-H-M-K) [1].
One of the three projects: Kasara–Manmad 3rd & 4th line (Central Railway, Maharashtra) [1][2].
Completion year: 2030-31 [1].
Employment: 265 lakh human-days (NOT permanent jobs — construction person-days) [1].
Villages benefited: ~3,902; population ~97 lakh [1].
Aligned with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, launched Oct 2021 [1].
UNESCO site on alignment: Hampi (Karnataka) [1].
Oil import reduction (railway multitracking class): ~22 crore litres; CO₂ saving ~111 crore kg [2].

GS-III — Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways; Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
GS-III — Environment: conservation, climate change (rail-led decarbonisation).
Probable stems: 1. "Multitracking of saturated rail corridors is a more cost-effective decarbonisation lever than green hydrogen for Indian Railways." Examine. 2. "PM Gati Shakti has shifted Indian infrastructure planning from project-led to network-led." Discuss with reference to recent railway approvals. 3. "Rail freight modal share remains stuck despite capacity expansion." Critically analyse.

PM Gati Shakti NMP (2021) — appraisal framework for these projects.
National Rail Plan 2030 — sets the 45% freight modal-share target.
National Logistics Policy 2022 — aims to cut logistics cost below 10% of GDP.
Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) — complementary capacity solution.
Mission Raftaar — speed upgrade of trunk routes.
Kavach (ATP system) — rolled out on quadrupled corridors.
India's NDC & LT-LEDS — context for CO₂ savings claims.
Hampi UNESCO WHS — heritage-railway interface (Karnataka leg).

Approver confusion: It is CCEA, not the Cabinet Committee on Security or full Cabinet.
State count vs district count: 4 states / 12 districts — easy to swap.
Employment metric: person-days (265 lakh), NOT jobs created.
Length: 389 km refers to this batch; do not confuse with the 901 km batch (MP/Rajasthan/UP/Karnataka/AP/Telangana) or 307 km batch.
PM Gati Shakti vs Bharatmala: these are rail multitracking (Ministry of Railways) under Gati Shakci umbrella — not Bharatmala (roads).