Union Minister for Railways, Electronics & IT, and Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw today interacted with the media at Rail Bhawan, New Delhi. Sharing key details about the recently approved Third and Fourth Rail Line project between Ratlam and Nagda by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, the Union Minister highlighted major aspects of the project and its objective to decongest existing rail lines, boost freight and passenger traffic efficiency, strengthen connectivity across critical economic corridors, and its targeted timeline for completion.

Addressing the media, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw elaborated on the strategic importance and wide-ranging benefits of this project. He informed that the 41.4 km section, part of the High-Density Network, will be four-lined at a cost of ₹1,018 crore, reducing line capacity utilization from 116% to 65%. It will connect key junctions Nagda (North), Vadodara (South), Indore (East), and Chittorgarh (West), will play a crucial role in regional and national connectivity.

The project will enhance freight movement from Madhya Pradesh to major West Coast ports like Kandla, Mundra, Pipavav, Hazira, Dahej, JNPA, and the proposed Vadhavan Port, boosting access for central and northern economic zones. It will directly benefit Indore SEZ, Chhindwara SEZ, MMPL Indore, MMLP Bhopal, the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor, and key industrial hubs such as the Nagda Thermal Power Plant and associated viscose and chemical industries in the Ratlam region.

The Railway Minister further highlighted that this infrastructural upgrade will lead to faster and more efficient transportation of agricultural commodities, coal, containers, and petroleum products. Tourism in Madhya Pradesh will receive a boost with better access to heritage and religious destinations such as Khajuraho, Gwalior, Kanha National Park, Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, Sanchi Stupa, Ujjain, Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Amarkantak, and Bhim Janmabhoomi.

The project is expected to generate 28 lakh human-days of employment and contribute to environmental sustainability by saving 38 crore kilograms of CO₂ in the first year—equivalent to planting 1.5 crore trees—and over 16.5 crore trees' worth of savings by the 11th year. Additionally, 7.5 crore liters of diesel will be saved. Freight traffic is projected to rise from 7 MTPA in the first year to 76.4 MTPA by the 11th year, post-commissioning of Vadhavan Port, significantly strengthening India’s logistics and industrial competitiveness.

The Minister also informed that under the ambitious Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 80 railway stations in Madhya Pradesh are being redeveloped with upgraded passenger amenities, improved aesthetics, and modern facilities. He added that the budgetary allocation for Madhya Pradesh has seen a significant rise, and projects are being fast-tracked in close coordination with the state government. The Railways is committed to completing all major railway projects in the state within the next one to two years, ensuring transformative impact on connectivity and regional development

In response to the overwhelming demand and long waiting lists for the Dr. Ambedkar Nagar–New Delhi Superfast Express, Shri Vaishnaw announced the launch of three new train services to address the increasing passenger load. The new services will include a train from Rewa to Pune via Jabalpur and Satna, another from Jabalpur to Raipur via Nainpur, Balaghat, and Gondia, and a third from Gwalior to Bengaluru via Guna and Bhopal. Operations for these trains are expected to commence within the next two months.

Addressing the preparations for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2028 in Ujjain, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the Ministry of Railways has begun comprehensive planning to cater to the expected huge rush of devotees. He assured that high-level meetings will be held to review and strengthen various aspects of railway preparedness for the mega event. Emphasizing the importance of coordinated planning and robust infrastructure readiness, he also informed that the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh has extended full cooperation to ensure smooth travel and seamless execution of all railway-related arrangements.

The event was graced by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Mohan Yadav, who joined via video conferencing.  Shri Anil Firojiya, Member of Parliament representing Ujjain (SC) Lok Sabha constituency, was present at Rail Bhawan.  Also in attendance were Shri Chetanya Kashyap, Minister of MSME, Government of Madhya Pradesh, representing Ratlam City Assembly constituency; Smt. Anita Nagar Singh Chouhan, Member of Parliament from Ratlam Lok Sabha constituency; Shri Mathura Lal Damar, MLA from Ratlam Rural (ST) Assembly constituency; and Dr. Tejbahadur Singh Chauhan, MLA from Nagda-Khachrod Assembly constituency.  Media representatives participated from the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) offices in Ratlam and Bhopal.

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Dharmendra Tewari/ Shatrunjay Kumar