Jabalpur: West Central Railway is preparing to lay a 500-km third railway line to cope with growing traffic. The survey for the project is in its final stage.
Work will begin once the Railway Board approves the project. The target is to complete it in about three years.
Once the third line is ready, a new rail path will be available for passenger and goods trains. This will reduce the stoppage of trains while waiting for the line to be cleared. Train speeds can be raised and operations better organised.
Survey in final stage
Dr Madhur Verma, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of West Central Railway, said the survey for the third line was in its final stage.
"Once it is ready, it will not only increase the number of trains but also improve punctuality. Industrial and trade activities will also benefit," he said.
Over 450 trains daily
Itarsi Junction is one of the major rail hubs of West Central Railway. More than 450 trains pass through it every day. Along with passenger trains, a large number of goods trains also use this network.
Because of rising traffic on the existing two lines, trains often have to be stopped to wait for line clearance. The third line will provide additional capacity for operations.
Cost estimated at ₹7,000 crore
According to sources, the third line project is estimated to cost about ₹7,000 crore.
Railways' preliminary estimate puts the cost of laying one kilometre of track at about ₹12 crore to ₹15 crore. The cost will depend on geographical conditions. It will cover track construction as well as signalling, electrification and other essential rail infrastructure.
Jabalpur to benefit too
Several long-distance trains run through Jabalpur on this section. The section is also important for goods transport.
A large number of passengers are expected to benefit from improved train operations once the third line is ready. Goods trains will not have to be held up for long to let passenger trains pass. This could speed up freight movement and benefit industrial and trade activities.
Project at a glance
Expected benefits