Скачать или смотреть Union Cabinet approves 141 km Okha–Kanalus Railway Line Doubling Project

New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today approved two projects of the Ministry of Railways with a total cost of ₹2,781 crore (approx.). These projects include the doubling of 141 km of the Devbhumi Dwarka (Okha)–Kanalus rail line and the laying of the 3rd and 4th lines on the Badlapur–Karjat (32 km) section in Maharashtra.

The two projects, covering four districts across Maharashtra and Gujarat, will increase the existing Indian Railways network by about 224 km.

The approved multitracking project will enhance connectivity to approximately 585 villages, with a combined population of around 32 lakh people.

The doubling of the Kanalus–Okha (Devbhumi Dwarka) section, costing approximately ₹1,457 crore, will improve connectivity to the Dwarkadhish Temple, facilitating access to a major pilgrimage destination and contributing to the overall development of the Saurashtra region.

The Badlapur–Karjat section forms part of the Mumbai suburban corridor. The 3rd and 4th line project will improve suburban connectivity, meet future passenger demand, and enhance linkages to southern India.

The projects are planned under the PM Gati-Shakti National Master Plan, with a focus on enhancing multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency through integrated planning and stakeholder consultations. These initiatives aim to provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services.

This route is crucial for transporting commodities such as coal, salt, containers, cement, POL, etc. The capacity augmentation will enable an additional 18 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum) of freight traffic. As railways are an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient mode of transport, the project will aid in achieving national climate goals, reduce logistics costs, lower oil imports by 3 crore litres, and cut CO₂ emissions by 16 crore kg, which is equivalent to the plantation of 64 lakh trees.

With this latest approval, the double railway line will reach the western edge of Saurashtra, passing through Surendranagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar and the temple town of Dwarka. This is because the Ahmedabad–Rajkot route is already a double line passing via Surendranagar, while the Rajkot–Kanalus (111.20 km) section is currently undergoing doubling to increase its capacity. Now, with the Kanalus–Okha doubling, the capacity of the Ahmedabad–Okha railway route will significantly increase.