Nagpur Region Projects Receive Major Boost in Railway Budget 2024-25
Nagpur, India- The Railway Budget for the financial year 2024-25 emphasizes continuity while gradually introducing modern changes with a focus on the future. Aiming to increase throughput to 3000 metric tonnes and planning for high-speed long-distance trains, the budget allocates significant funds for ongoing and new projects in various regions.
For the Nagpur region, key projects have received considerable allocations. These include the 3rd and 4th lines on the Nagpur-Sevagram-Wardha route, a new line from Wardha to Nanded via Pusad (Yavatmal), the Wardha-Ballarshah 3rd line, and the Itarsi-Nagpur 3rd line. The Nagpur Division of South East Central Railway (SECR) has its primary focus on the Rajnandgaon-Nagpur 3rd line, a 228 km section where capacity addition is ongoing.
The strategy at Rail Bhavan over recent years has been to eliminate bottlenecks across the 56 divisions of Indian Railways. This includes new line programs, additional lines, and gauge conversion projects to ensure a resilient network. The objective is to commission these projects at a faster rate to maximize economic benefits.
In the Nagpur region, the Wardha-Nanded new line, a 270-km stretch, has been allocated Rs 750 crore, reflecting the completion of land acquisition and the need to expedite construction. Of this, Rs 450 crore comes from the Capital Fund and Rs 300 crore from the Safety Fund. The Nagpur-Sevagram 3rd and 4th lines, aimed at decongesting crucial routes like the Grand Trunk and Mumbai-Howrah, have also received substantial allocations: Rs 134 crore for the 76.3 km 3rd line and Rs 120 crore for the 78.70 km 4th line.
Other significant projects in the Central Railway's Nagpur Division include the Itarsi-Nagpur 3rd line, with Rs 320 crore allocated for the 280-km stretch. The initial focus was on the ghat section, followed by critical sections such as Katol-Kalamb. The Wardha-Ballarshah 3rd line, a 132-km section, has received Rs 200 crore, while the 2nd chord line on the Wardha-Chittoda section, nearing completion, has been allocated Rs 4 crore.
However, the ambitious Itarsi-Jalgaon long loop line project, spanning 713.86 km and covering Amla, Nagpur-Wardha, and Bhusaval, has received only Rs 25 crore, indicating it may not be fast-tracked this year.
For SECR's Nagpur Division, the 3rd line between Rajnandgaon and Nagpur is nearing completion, with Rs 305 crore allocated. About 50 km of this 228 km stretch remains, primarily involving interlocking and track laying in the ghat section. Additionally, the Gadchiroli-Wadsa new line, a 49.5 km project in a naxal-affected area, has been allocated Rs 150 crore.
Overall, the Railway Budget demonstrates a commitment to addressing bottlenecks and expanding capacity across crucial routes, ensuring the railway network continues to support economic growth and future demands.
