Railways approves Rs 493 crore for Mukutban-Gadchandur rail line

Indian Railways has approved Rs 493 crore in funding for the Mukutban-Gadchandur railway project, according to a report from Chandrapur. The new route, connecting Yavatmal and Chandrapur districts, will be 38.21 kilometres long. The project falls under South Central Railway's jurisdiction, and MP Pratibha Dhanorkar has been consistently pursuing it.

The Mukutban and Gadchandur areas have cement industries, coal mines and limestone quarries. The new line is expected to make freight movement from these areas faster and safer. According to the railway ministry's project report, once the line is completed, it is estimated to carry around 6.08 million tonnes of freight annually, including coal, cement, sponge iron, steel, fertiliser and grain.

The route will also give the coal and cement industries a direct link to the Majri-Nanded railway line, allowing raw material to be transported over shorter distances. This will help ease the load on the heavily congested Ballarpur-Nagpur railway line. The new route will also serve as a good alternative for the Wardha-Manikgarh railway section, reducing extra traffic pressure on the existing line. As a result, rural and industrial areas in Yavatmal and Chandrapur districts that currently have limited rail connectivity are expected to see faster development.

Welcoming the approval, MP Pratibha Dhanorkar said the decision would prove to be an important step for the economic and industrial development of the entire region, including Gadchandur. She said that while the railway line would directly benefit industries, passenger trains would also be introduced in both directions once the project is completed, making travel easier and more convenient for local people.

The railway approval is being seen as a major step for the region, as it will shorten and speed up freight movement while also bringing passenger train services to the area in the future.