Indian Railways Expands Capacity with New Third Line Projects

The Ministry of Railways is expanding critical transport corridors to combat severe congestion and increase freight capacity across India. On July 22, 2026, the ministry commissioned the 203-km Kazipet-Balharshah third line project, a Rs 3,000 crore initiative aimed at decongesting the Grand Trunk route on the Delhi-Chennai corridor. This project involved tripling and electrifying tracks across Telangana and Maharashtra, with the final 11-km stretch including a bridge over the Bibra River. While most of the corridor is operational, work continues on a small section near the Balharshah yard under the Central Railway zone.

Simultaneously, Indian Railways approved a Rs 440 crore project to construct a 14.52 km third railway line between Nimpura West Outer Cabin and Midnapur in West Bengal. This segment, part of the High Utilisation Network (HUN-2), currently operates at 115.71 percent capacity. The new line is designed to increase freight movement by 3.52 million tonnes per annum, supporting the transport of coal, iron ore, steel, and petroleum products.

Together, these developments reflect a broader strategy to improve operational flexibility for both passenger and freight services. The projects aim to increase overall mobility and reduce the national rail network's carbon footprint through expanded electrification.