Ministry of Railways Approves ₹497-Crore Railway Line Doubling in Maharashtra

The Ministry of Railways announced through an official Press Information Bureau (PIB) press release the approval of a major railway infrastructure project to double the Chouk-Karjat railway section in Maharashtra at an estimated cost of ₹497 crore. The 10.86 km stretch falls under the Central Railway network and is part of the crucial Panvel-Chouk-Karjat corridor, which handles heavy passenger and industrial freight traffic. The approval was granted under the umbrella infrastructure program aimed at network capacity expansion through line doubling, tripling, quadrupling, and bypass constructions. Currently operating as a single-line stretch, the Chouk-Karjat section suffers from capacity constraints that cause delays in train operations. Doubling the track will eliminate bottlenecks and streamline train movements along the Panvel-Karjat route. According to the official press release, the completed project will facilitate the operation of five additional passenger trains in each direction every day. Furthermore, it is projected to handle an additional 18.35 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) of freight movement, significantly reducing the detention time of goods trains. Indian Railways emphasized that this capital expenditure aligns with ongoing national initiatives to enhance logistics efficiency and passenger mobility.