Indian Railways Approves ₹493 Crore Rail Link Between Mukutban and Gadchandur

New Delhi-  Indian Railways has approved a ₹493-crore project to construct a 38.21-km new rail line connecting Mukutban in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district with Gadchandur in Chandrapur district, aimed at improving regional connectivity and supporting industrial and mining activity.

The project, under the South Central Railway, is expected to provide a shorter rail route for passenger and freight movement while reducing travel distance, transportation time and logistics costs.

Mukutban and Gadchandur are important industrial and mining centres, with several cement plants, coal mines operated by Western Coalfields Ltd. and nearby limestone mines. The new rail link is expected to strengthen connectivity to these clusters and facilitate more efficient transportation of raw materials and finished goods.

According to the Detailed Project Report, the line is projected to handle 6.08 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of freight traffic after commissioning. It is also expected to support two MEMU trains in each direction every day.

The anticipated freight traffic will include coal and coke, cement, sponge iron, metal scrap, iron and steel, fertilisers and foodgrains, among other commodities.

The new line will provide an alternative route to the existing Wardha-Manikgarh section, helping reduce congestion and improve the movement of freight trains.

It will also establish direct connectivity between the coal and cement-producing cluster and the Majri-Nanded route, enabling shorter freight leads towards Jalna, Parbhani, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and other destinations across Maharashtra and Karnataka.

The project is also expected to reduce dependence on the congested Balharshah-Nagpur High-Density Network (HDN) route. Improved rail access to relatively less-connected areas of Yavatmal and Chandrapur is expected to support industrial expansion and regional economic activity.

Besides adding capacity to the railway network, the new corridor will provide an additional route for the movement of essential commodities and cater to growing freight and passenger requirements.

The project is expected to improve utilisation of the existing railway infrastructure while strengthening transport links between industrial centres and key destinations in the region.