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Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently stated that the proposed Dedicated Freight Corridor connecting West Bengal and Gujarat will significantly support industrial growth in Madhya Pradesh by improving freight efficiency and port access. The 2,052 km corridor from Dankuni to Surat will pass through multiple states and link with the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. Alongside this, INR 48,000 crore worth of railway projects have been sanctioned for Madhya Pradesh, including major line expansions and the INR 18,000 crore Indore Manmad project, aimed at increasing both freight and passenger capacity.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the proposed Dedicated Freight Corridor between West Bengal and Gujarat will play an important role in strengthening industrial development in Madhya Pradesh. He stated that better freight movement and direct access to western ports will improve logistics efficiency for industries operating in the state. Advertisement
The minister made these remarks while remotely inaugurating the Bhopal-Dhanbad tri-weekly express and the Bhopal-Chopan weekly express from Rail Bhawan in New Delhi. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav joined the event from Bhopal railway station. The new trains are expected to improve connectivity between Madhya Pradesh and states such as Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar, particularly benefiting regions like Singrauli. Deputy Chief Ministers Jagdish Devda and Rajendra Shukla were also present.
Vaishnaw explained that railway development in Madhya Pradesh has expanded significantly in the current term, with nearly INR 48,000 crore worth of projects sanctioned that directly benefit the state. A key project among these is the Indore-Manmad rail line, estimated at around INR 18,000 crore, which has been pending for years and is expected to improve connectivity between central India and Maharashtra.
Several capacity enhancement projects have also been cleared. These include the Bhusawal-Khandwa third and fourth line project worth about INR 3,500 crore, the Prayagraj-Manikpur third line project valued at around INR 1,640 crore, and the Ratlam-Nagda third and fourth line project estimated at INR 1,000 crore. The Itarsi-Nagpur fourth line project, with an investment of about INR 5,400 crore, is also moving ahead. Additionally, the Itarsi Bhopal Bina fourth line corridor is progressing with an estimated cost of INR 4,300 crore.
The Vadodara-Ratlam third and fourth line project has been sanctioned at nearly INR 8,800 crore, while the Union Cabinet has approved the Gondia-Jabalpur doubling project at about INR 5,200 crore. These projects are aimed at increasing line capacity, reducing congestion and enabling smoother freight and passenger operations across central India.
The proposed east-west freight corridor, announced in the Union Budget, will cover approximately 2,052 km from Dankuni in West Bengal to Surat in Gujarat. It will pass through Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra before connecting with the existing Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. This integration is expected to ease pressure on current rail routes and allow faster freight movement.
Vaishnaw indicated that the corridor will give industries in Madhya Pradesh improved access to major western ports such as Hazira and Mundra, along with the upcoming Vadhvan Port in Maharashtra, which is expected to become one of the largest ports globally after completion. Improved connectivity to these ports is likely to reduce transportation time and logistics costs for both bulk and container cargo.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that the new passenger services will provide better rail connectivity to Singrauli and strengthen economic links with Dhanbad and other regions. He stated that improved rail services would support trade, employment and movement of people across connected states.
Source PTI
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