In a significant push to green and modern rail infrastructure in Chhattisgarh, the Union Cabinet has approved the Kharsia–Naya Raipur–Parmalkasa 5th and 6th railway lines at a cost of Rs 8,741 crore. The project is expected to save 22 crore litres of diesel annually and reduce carbon emissions by 113 crore kg, equivalent to planting 4.5 crore trees. Addressing media persons virtually from Rail Bhawan, New Delhi on Monday, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the ambitious project will revolutionise rail connectivity in Chhattisgarh, enhance freight movement, and strengthen passenger transport. The new route will span 278 km (route length) and 615 km (track length), covering 21 stations and including 48 major bridges, 349 minor bridges, 14 Road Over Bridges, 184 Road Under Bridges, and five rail flyovers.

 

“Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, railway investment in Chhattisgarh has witnessed a 22-fold jump—from Rs 300 crore under previous governments to over Rs 8,000 crore now,” Vaishnaw said. He added that the project is not just about infrastructure, but about “connecting people, generating employment, and boosting trade.” The new rail line will serve as a vital freight corridor connecting Odisha and Maharashtra borders, bypassing Bilaspur and Raipur to ease congestion on the busy Kolkata-Mumbai main route. It will support freight movement of 21–38 million tonnes annually and accommodate eight mail/express/semi-high-speed trains. Districts set to benefit include Raigarh, Janjgir-Champa, Sakti, Bilaspur, Baloda Bazar, Raipur, Durg, and Rajnandgaon.

 

The project is estimated to save Rs 2,520 crore annually in logistics costs—offering a more economical alternative to road transport. The Railway Minister also highlighted its broader socio-economic impact, including the generation of two crore man-days of employment and improved market access for local industries such as Dokra art, bell metal, Kosa silk, and bamboo crafts. Important cultural sites, including the Laxminarayan Temple, will also benefit from improved connectivity. Vaishnaw said the project aligns with the broader rail infrastructure push in the state. Chhattisgarh has seen over Rs 47,000 crore invested in rail development.

 

Several new rail services, including Amrit Bharat and Namo Bharat trains, will soon operate in Chhattisgarh, further boosting connectivity. The Kharsia–Parmalkasa corridor is expected to unlock new industrial opportunities, particularly in Baloda Bazar, facilitating the transport of key commodities like coal, cement, steel, fertilizers, and agricultural produce. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who joined the press briefing virtually, expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and Union Railway Minister for the approval. Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu and MPs Devendra Pratap Singh, Brijmohan Agrawal, Santosh Pandey, Kamlesh Jangade, and Radheshyam Rathia also joined the press conference and placed regional demands before the minister. With sustainability, connectivity, and economic empowerment at its core, the railway push is being hailed as a transformative step towards building a “Viksit Bharat” through robust transport infrastructure in Chhattisgarh. Massive Rail Infrastructure Push in Chhattisgarh: Chhattisgarh is witnessing an unprecedented boost in its railway infrastructure, with key projects focusing on line doubling, tripling, and even quadrupling—spanning a total length of 1,125 km. As many as 32 railway stations across the state are currently undergoing transformation under this massive initiative. With total investments exceeding 47,000 crore in the state’s railway sector, Chhattisgarh is now setting new benchmarks—outpacing even international standards and surpassing the railway network scale of Dubai, UAE. Funds have been sanctioned for ten major railway projects in Chhattisgarh, aimed at boosting connectivity and accelerating regional development.

 

These include the completed Dalli Rajhara–Raoghat rail line and the Raoghat–Jagdalpur project, for which the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been finalised. Construction on the Gevra–Pendra Road new rail line is progressing at a rapid pace, while work on the third line between Rajnandgaon and Nagpur and the fourth line from Jharsuguda to Bilaspur is also underway. The broad gauge conversion work on the Raipur–Kendri–Dhamtari–Abhanpur–Rajim section is in progress, with train services currently operational up to Abhanpur.

 

Other key projects include the Rajnandgaon–Dongargarh fourth line, the doubling of the Jagdalpur–Koraput and Anuppur–Ambikapur lines, and the development of a new rail line between Dharamjaygarh and Korba. In addition to these, surveys are being conducted for several other prospective rail projects across the state. These developments mark a transformative phase for the state’s railway connectivity and infrastructure, promising enhanced logistics, better passenger services, and increased economic opportunities across the region.