Cabinet clears ₹9,072 crore railway multitracking projects across 4 states to add 307 km capacity

Direct fact

In February 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved three multitracking railway projects worth about ₹9,072 crore to add around 307 km of capacity across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.

Key specifics

• Three projects were cleared on 24 February 2026: Gondia–Jabalpur Doubling, Punarakh–Kiul 3rd & 4th line, and Gamharia–Chandil 3rd & 4th line.
• The combined network addition is about 307 km across 8 districts in 4 states.
• The projects are expected to boost freight by 52 MTPA and serve about 5,407 villages.
• The article says the works will benefit nearly 98 lakh people and reduce logistics costs.
• Gondia–Jabalpur Doubling alone is about 231 km and is estimated at ₹5,236 crore.

Exam lens

Question type: infrastructure and economy match-the-following; remember 24 February 2026, ₹9,072 crore, 307 km, 52 MTPA, and the four states. TNPSC may ask which project connects Maharashtra–Madhya Pradesh or which corridor supports freight decongestion.