31,000 km in a Decade? The Story Behind BJP’s Big Rail Claim

The Union Cabinet recently cleared two key railway infrastructure projects: the addition of third and fourth lines on the Ratlam–Nagda stretch in Madhya Pradesh and a fourth line between Wardha and Balharshah in Maharashtra. These projects, covering a total of 176 km, are part of the broader vision under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, aimed at boosting connectivity and reducing logistics costs. But what exactly are these new rail lines? Is the central government prioritising capacity enhancement? Are these part of the 31,000 km of new tracks that Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw spoke about—added over the last 10 years? And how does this compare to the progress made under the UPA government? Let’s delve deeper into these questions in this article.


India’s railway network forms the lifeblood of national logistics — enabling seamless movement of passengers, freight, and essential commodities. As a backbone of industrial supply chains and rural-urban connectivity, Indian Railways plays a central role in integrating regions and boosting economic productivity. Acknowledging its strategic importance, the government has placed rail infrastructure at the heart of its development vision for a ‘New India’ — a vision that goes beyond expanding routes to include modernization, sustainability, and capacity augmentation.

The latest Cabinet approvals for two major multitracking projects reflect this shift in focus — from reactive fixes to future-ready infrastructure planning under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

What Did the Cabinet Approve?

In a decision led by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, two crucial multitracking railway projects were sanctioned, targeting high-density routes to ease congestion and streamline freight movement.

Wardha–Balharshah (Maharashtra) – 4th Line: This high-priority corridor is a key freight artery, handling coal, cement, fertilizer, petroleum products, and agricultural output. As part of the strategic Delhi–Chennai corridor, it enhances North-South connectivity and ensures smoother logistics for industries across central and southern India.

Ratlam–Nagda (Madhya Pradesh) – 3rd and 4th Lines: Serving as a major freight and passenger corridor, this route connects key destinations in four directions — Nagda (North), Vadodara (South), Indore (East), and Chittorgarh (West). It also links Madhya Pradesh to western coastal ports, facilitating export and import movement for the hinterlands.

Key Project Highlights

These projects are seamlessly aligned with the larger Gati Shakti framework, which aims to create integrated, multimodal infrastructure networks to reduce logistics costs and improve last-mile delivery across India.

A Decade of Expansion: Railways in the Modi Era

Between 2014 and 2024, Indian Railways underwent an unprecedented expansion — adding over 31,000 km of new track, according to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. To put this in perspective, India added as much track in 10 years as the entire German railway network, showcasing the sheer scale of ambition.

New lines were constructed at an average pace of 8.54 km/day, a sharp contrast to the UPA era (2004–2014), which added only around 17,000 km in the same duration.



The current approach marks a break from the past. Delays, stalled projects, and slow approvals — hallmarks of the UPA years, as flagged by CAG reports — have now given way to quicker execution, digitized project monitoring, and streamlined bureaucracy.

Why Multitracking is the Need of the Hour
Multitracking involves laying additional lines (such as third or fourth tracks) alongside existing ones to support increasing traffic loads. It is a strategic response to congestion on high-traffic routes, ensuring uninterrupted movement of both freight and passengers.

For instance:

• Wardha–Balharshah is vital for bulk commodities like coal and containers.
• Ratlam–Nagda is critical for both port connectivity and interstate travel.

By adding more tracks, Indian Railways can run multiple trains in parallel, improve punctuality, reduce waiting times, and enhance safety. It’s a cost-effective way to increase throughput on existing corridors rather than creating entirely new routes.

The Railways Multiplier: Driving Economic Transformation

Investment in railways delivers far-reaching economic benefits. As Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw aptly stated:

“A ₹100 investment in railways yields a multiplier effect of ₹400+ in the overall economy.”

This effect stems from:

• Lower logistics costs for businesses
• Faster movement of goods across states
• Employment generation in construction, manufacturing, and operations
• Greater market access for rural and semi-urban producers

In short, every kilometre of railway investment contributes to GDP growth, regional development, and improved ease of doing business.

Green Growth Through Electrified Corridors

Indian Railways is playing a frontline role in India’s climate action goals by shifting to fully electrified tracks and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

The Ratlam–Nagda and Wardha–Balharshah projects are 100% electrified and are expected to:

-Save 20 crore litres of imported oil

-Reduce 99 crore kg of CO₂ emissions
(equivalent to planting 4 crore trees)

Four more upcoming multitracking projects will add even more green dividends — saving 95 crore litres of oil and reducing emissions by 477 crore kg, equal to planting 19 crore trees.

Thus, rail expansion is not only about connectivity — it’s also a bold step toward a sustainable, energy-secure future.

The Modi government's recent approvals for multitracking are not isolated infrastructure updates. They reflect a larger development model — one that integrates economic growth, environmental responsibility, and regional equity. With over 31,000 km of new tracks in a decade, Indian Railways is being transformed into a high-capacity, future-proof transport system.

This is not just about tracks and trains — it’s about empowering Bharat with faster connectivity, cleaner mobility, and stronger economic resilience.