Indore-Manmad Rail Project

• 05 Sep 2024

Why in News? 

Recently, the Indore-Manmad Railway Project has been approved, marking a historic milestone for railway development in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Key Points 

• Project Overview: The project covers 309 kilometers (out of which 170.056 km will be covered in Madhya Pradesh and 139.376 km in Maharashtra) with a total cost of Rs. 18,036.25 crore.
  • It will link Indore in Madhya Pradesh to Manmad in Maharashtra, connecting important districts (Barwani, Khargone, Dhar, and Indore) and enhancing regional connectivity.
• Economic and Social Benefits: Expected to generate direct employment during construction and after completion in underdeveloped districts like Barwani and Khargone, and enhance logistics for industries.
  • Railway line will greatly benefit the Scheduled Tribe communities in the Malwa and Nimar regions, driving positive change and opening new opportunities.
• Agricultural Impact: Improves transportation for onion-producing hubs (Nashik, Dhule, and Nandurbar) and other agricultural products.
• Religious Tourism: The rail line will facilitate easier access to major religious sites, including Jyotirlingas, promoting religious tourism.
• Project Funding and Contributions: Madhya Pradesh will contribute Rs.1,362.80 crore (10% of the state’s share), while Maharashtra will not contribute financially. The remaining funds are provided by the Central Government.
• Central Support: Central Government has supported the project under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan 

• Aim: To ensure integrated planning and implementation of infrastructure projects in the next four years, with focus on expediting works on the ground, saving costs and creating jobs.
  • The Gati Shakti scheme will subsume the Rs 110 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline that was launched in 2019.
  • Besides cutting logistics costs, the scheme is also aimed at increasing cargo handling capacity and reducing the turnaround time at ports to boost trade.
  • It also aims to have 11 industrial corridors and two new defence corridors - one in Tamil Nadu and other in Uttar Pradesh. Extending 4G connectivity to all villages is another aim. Adding 17,000 kms to the gas pipeline network is being planned.
  • It will help in fulfilling the ambitious targets set by the government for 2024-25, including expanding the length of the national highway network to 2 lakh kms, creation of more than 200 new airports, heliports and water aerodromes.