The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, 29 May 2025 – In a significant development aimed at strengthening rail infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced the Cabinet’s green signal for the much-awaited third and fourth rail lines between Ratlam and Nagda. Designed to reduce traffic congestion on the high-density route, this ₹1,018 crore project will not only improve regional and national connectivity but also deliver major environmental and economic benefits.
During a press briefing at Rail Bhawan, Shri Vaishnaw highlighted that the 41.4 km section will now be four-laned, bringing down the over-utilized line capacity from 116% to a manageable 65%. This critical stretch connects multiple key economic corridors—Nagda in the North, Vadodara to the South, Indore in the East, and Chittorgarh in the West—making it a backbone for national freight movement.
The upgraded corridor will provide better logistics access to West Coast ports including Kandla, Mundra, Hazira, Dahej, JNPA, Pipavav, and the upcoming Vadhavan Port. Industrial hubs such as the Indore and Chhindwara SEZs, MMPL Indore, MMLP Bhopal, and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor are set to gain immensely. Industries in Ratlam, especially in thermal power, viscose, and chemical sectors, will benefit from faster goods transportation.
Environmentally, the project is projected to be a game-changer. In the first year alone, it is expected to save 38 crore kilograms of CO₂—comparable to planting over 1.5 crore trees—and reduce diesel consumption by 7.5 crore liters. Over an 11-year period, the emission savings could match the absorption capacity of more than 16.5 crore trees. Additionally, it is forecast to generate 28 lakh human-days of employment.
Tourism in the state is also set to benefit. With better rail access to sites such as Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, Khajuraho, Ujjain, Sanchi Stupa, Bhim Janmabhoomi, and Kanha National Park, the project promises to encourage domestic and international footfall.
On station infrastructure, Shri Vaishnaw shared that 80 railway stations across Madhya Pradesh are undergoing redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. These upgrades aim to offer enhanced passenger amenities, cleaner environments, and modern facilities, transforming the overall travel experience.
Highlighting public demand, the Railway Minister also announced three new train services set to begin within two months:
Rewa to Pune via Jabalpur and Satna
Jabalpur to Raipur through Nainpur, Balaghat, and Gondia
Gwalior to Bengaluru via Guna and Bhopal
These new routes are designed to reduce the heavy passenger load on existing trains like the Dr. Ambedkar Nagar–New Delhi Superfast Express.
Preparations have also begun for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela in 2028, one of India’s largest religious gatherings. Shri Vaishnaw confirmed that the Ministry is working in coordination with the Madhya Pradesh government to ensure robust infrastructure, smooth travel, and efficient crowd management. High-level meetings will take place to finalize operational strategies for managing the expected influx of devotees.
The announcement event saw virtual participation from Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and was attended by several key public representatives including MP Shri Anil Firojiya (Ujjain), Minister Shri Chetanya Kashyap (Ratlam City), MP Smt. Anita Nagar Singh Chouhan (Ratlam), and MLAs Shri Mathura Lal Damar (Ratlam Rural) and Dr. Tejbahadur Singh Chauhan (Nagda-Khachrod). Media were also linked in from DRM offices in Ratlam and Bhopal.
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