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Indian Railways has approved projects worth INR 871 crore across Rajasthan, Kerala and West Bengal to strengthen maintenance capacity and ease congestion on key routes. The works include expansion of coaching depots at Shri Ganganagar and Lalgarh in Rajasthan, doubling of the Turavur Mararikulam rail section in Kerala, and construction of a 4.75-km Kalipahari bypass line in West Bengal. The projects are expected to improve rake handling, reduce delays, support additional passenger and freight trains, and enhance operational efficiency across Northern, Southern and Eastern Railway zones.
Indian Railways has sanctioned infrastructure projects totalling INR 871 crore to enhance operational capacity and reduce congestion in Rajasthan, Kerala and West Bengal. The approvals cover works under the Northern, Southern and Eastern Railway zones and focus on maintenance upgrades, line capacity enhancement and smoother inter-zonal connectivity. Advertisement
In Rajasthan, Phase I development of coaching maintenance facilities at Shri Ganganagar station has been cleared. The project is aimed at strengthening infrastructure for modern rolling stock such as LHB coaches and Vande Bharat trains. The approved works include new washing and stabling lines, additional pit lines, a wheel lathe, an engine escape line and a sick line shed. Machinery such as synchronised lifting jacks, cranes and an automatic coach washing plant will also be installed. Once completed, the facility is expected to handle six additional rakes per day, improving turnaround time and maintenance efficiency in the region.
Another major approval in the state relates to Phase II expansion of coaching maintenance infrastructure at Lalgarh in the Bikaner division. The augmentation will support the increasing deployment of LHB and Vande Bharat services. The scope includes additional washing lines, covered sheds, expansion of sick lines, service buildings, retractable overhead equipment systems, coach lifting arrangements and mechanised washing plants. These additions are intended to strengthen depot capacity and reduce dependence on other divisions for rake maintenance.
In Kerala, the 21.10-kilometre Turavur-Mararikulam section on the Ernakulam-Alappuzha-Kayankulam corridor will be doubled. This route carries substantial passenger traffic along with freight linked to Cochin Port and other industrial movements. After doubling, the section is expected to accommodate nine additional passenger trains per day in each direction. It will also support an estimated 2.88 million tonnes of additional freight traffic annually. Officials have indicated that freight train detention time on the stretch could reduce by around 17 to 19 minutes, while passenger train delays may come down by 12 to 15 minutes. The doubling is aimed at easing congestion on one of Kerala's busy coastal corridors.
In West Bengal, a 4.75-kilometre Kalipahari Bypass Line has been approved under Eastern Railway. Currently, trains moving between South Eastern Railway and Eastern Railway zones enter Asansol Yard for engine reversal, leading to operational delays and yard congestion. The bypass line will provide direct connectivity between the two zones, removing the need for such reversals. The change is expected to save nearly 90 minutes for nine freight trains and around 30 minutes for eight coaching trains daily. This is likely to improve punctuality and free up yard capacity at Asansol, which handles significant freight traffic in the coal and industrial belt.
The approvals come at a time when Indian Railways has been expanding infrastructure to support higher traffic volumes and modern train operations. In recent years, the focus has been on upgrading depots to handle LHB coaches, expanding line capacity through doubling and bypasses, and reducing bottlenecks at major junctions and yards. The latest set of projects aligns with that broader strategy of improving efficiency and preparing the network for increasing passenger and freight demand.
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