Indian Railways Approves ₹440 Crore Third Line Project on South Eastern Railway
Indian Railways has approved the construction of a 14.52 km third line between Nimpura West Outer Cabin and Midnapur in South Eastern Railway at a cost of ₹440 crore. This project forms part of the High Utilisation Network (HUN-2) route and aims to address severe congestion, as the existing section is operating at 115.71% line capacity utilization.
The Nimpura West Outer Cabin-Gokulpur section is currently a single line, with doubling works already in progress. The additional third line will substantially augment line capacity and improve operational flexibility on this strategically important corridor that carries substantial volumes of both passenger and freight traffic.
Freight Capacity and Commodity Movement
The route currently transports nearly 23.80 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) of key commodities including manganese, iron ore, containers, coal, clinker, pellet iron, iron and steel, wheat, stone, sleepers, slag, salt, rice, petroleum products, limestone, gypsum, fertilizers, edible oil, chemical salt, charcoal, cement, ballast and ash. Upon completion, the project is expected to facilitate additional freight traffic of 3.52 MTPA, significantly enhancing the movement of essential commodities and reducing operational bottlenecks.
Strategic Importance and Economic Impact
The enhanced infrastructure will improve network reliability and strengthen connectivity for industries and businesses dependent on this important rail corridor. The approval reflects Indian Railways' sustained focus on capacity augmentation across high-density routes, enabling faster movement of freight and passengers while supporting economic growth through a modern, efficient railway network. The project was announced as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations and was officially posted by PIB Delhi on July 23, 2026.