Cabinet approves two multitracking railway projects in UP and Andhra Pradesh

India’s cabinet approved two multitracking railway projects in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, totaling 601 km of track and costing Rs 24,815 crore.

The moves are intended to improve logistics efficiency, cut freight costs and ease congestion on existing lines, a key goal of the government’s PM Gati Shakti infrastructure plan.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave the green light on Saturday. One project will double‑track the Ghaziabad‑Sitapur corridor in Uttar Pradesh, while the other will add a second line to the Rajahmundry‑Visakhapatnam route in Andhra Pradesh. Together they will cover 15 districts and involve an outlay of Rs 24,815 crore^[2]. The new or expanded track will stretch 601 km^[2], creating capacity for faster, higher‑volume freight movement.

Implementation is slated to begin later this year, with full operationalisation targeted for 2031^[4]. The timeline reflects the scale of civil‑engineering work required, including land acquisition, bridge construction, and signalling upgrades across both corridors.

Under the broader Gati Shakti initiative, the projects are expected to reduce transportation costs for manufacturers and agricultural producers, enhance supply‑chain reliability, and shift cargo from congested highways to rail – a shift that could lower emissions and support India’s climate commitments. The added capacity also aligns with the government’s aim to increase the share of freight moved by rail to 45% by 2030.

**What this means**: By expanding double‑track capacity on two strategic east‑west corridors, the government is addressing chronic bottlenecks that have limited freight speeds and raised logistics costs. If completed on schedule, the projects could make Indian rail freight more competitive, stimulate regional economic activity in the 15 districts involved, and contribute to the national goal of a more sustainable, rail‑centric transport network.