Railways approves ₹440 crore third line, eases congestion

Indian Railways has approved a ₹440 crore project to lay a 14.52-km third railway line between Nimpura West Outer Cabin and Midnapur on the South Eastern Railway, part of the High Utilisation Network. The additional line is expected to ease congestion on a corridor currently handling about 23.80 million tonnes of freight per year and operating at 115.71% capacity. The third line will boost capacity for both passenger and freight services, with an anticipated 3.52 million tonnes per annum of additional freight movement. The route serves a high-density freight corridor carrying commodities such as coal, iron ore, steel, cement, fertilisers, and various containers and grains. Doubling works are already underway on the adjacent Nimpura West Outer Cabin–Gokulpur section, and the new line is seen as increasing operational flexibility and reliability. This expansion is positioned within Indian Railways’ broader push to strengthen core freight corridors and support industrial supply chains.