Mumbai, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced a significant infrastructure milestone for Maharashtra with the approval of the doubling of the 240 km Gondia-Balharshah railway line, a project valued at ₹4,819 crore. The move is set to dramatically enhance both passenger and freight connectivity between northern and southern India.
“This project will play a pivotal role in improving connectivity and driving growth in the region,” Vaishnaw said. “Especially in the aspirational districts, where development will now accelerate more rapidly.”
The minister also highlighted the unprecedented scale of railway investments in Maharashtra under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, stating that the state has been allocated projects worth ₹1.73 lakh crore. This includes marquee initiatives like the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train and the dedicated freight corridor.
In the current fiscal year alone, Maharashtra has received an allocation of over ₹23,000 crore for railway infrastructure development—an all-time high for the state.
The announcement signals a strong commitment to enhancing Maharashtra’s role as a key transit and logistics hub, while also aiming to uplift underdeveloped areas through improved connectivity and economic integration.