The Ministry of Railways has approved the construction of a fourth railway line between Baikunth and Urkura, a move expected to significantly enhance train connectivity along the busy Howrah–Mumbai high-density corridor. The sanctioned project involves the development of a 26.40-km-long new line, forming a critical capacity upgrade on the Bilaspur–Raipur–Nagpur main route under the administrative jurisdiction of the South East Central (SEC) Railway.
The Baikunth–Urkura section currently operates at near-saturated capacity, resulting in congestion and operational constraints. The addition of a fourth line is aimed at easing this pressure, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring smoother movement of both passenger and freight trains on one of the country’s most heavily utilised rail networks.
This rail infrastructure project has been identified under the Energy, Cement and Mineral Corridor. “The work has been identified under the Energy, Cement and Mineral Corridor, reflecting Indian Railways’ continued focus on strengthening infrastructure in high-traffic and economically critical regions,” the Ministry of Railways said. The project will be executed at an estimated cost of Rs 426.01 crore.
Once completed, the new line is expected to create additional capacity for passenger and coaching services, reduce delays, and improve punctuality on the section. It will also enable the movement of higher volumes of freight traffic, estimated at around 14.25 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). “This increase in freight handling capacity is projected to generate additional annual earnings of about Rs 61.70 crore for Indian Railways, starting from the first year of commissioning,” the national transporter said in a release.
The Howrah–Mumbai high-density corridor passes through regions that have seen rapid growth in power generation, coal mining, and steel and cement production, alongside the emergence of allied industries. The Baikunth–Urkura fourth line is expected to support this industrial expansion by ensuring faster, more reliable transportation of bulk commodities, strengthening supply chains, and reinforcing the region’s economic momentum.
