The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved four railway projects worth Rs 24,634 crore under the PM Gati Shakti plan. The projects cover 894 km across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh.

The projects are aimed at decongesting busy rail corridors and improving freight movement. More than 3,600 villages are expected to benefit from better connectivity once the lines are complete.

The approval continues the government’s push to expand rail capacity as part of its infrastructure-led growth strategy. Railways has been a major recipient of capital expenditure in recent budgets, with multi-tracking and new lines prioritised.

Officials said the projects will reduce logistics costs and travel time while generating employment during construction. Timelines for completion will be announced as the projects move to the execution stage.

The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, launched in 2021, coordinates infrastructure planning across ministries to cut project delays. Railways, roads and ports projects cleared under the plan are tracked on a common digital platform.