India’s Mega Rail Projects | 01 Jan 2026

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Indian Railways is undertaking landmark 21st-century infrastructure projects that are transforming connectivity, boosting logistics, and showcasing India’s engineering capability and long-term development vision.

What are the Recent Landmark Railway Infrastructure Projects in India?

• Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL): A 272-km strategically vital railway project in the Himalayan region built at a cost of about ₹44,000 crore, providing all-weather rail connectivity to the Kashmir Valley through 36 tunnels (119 km) and 943 bridges, significantly enhancing security, mobility, tourism, and economic activity.
  • Chenab Rail Bridge: Part of (USBRL), this world’s highest railway arch bridge stands 359 m above the river, spans 1,315 m, and is engineered to withstand high seismic activity and extreme wind conditions, symbolising India’s advanced engineering capabilities.
  • Anji Rail Bridge: India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, constructed over the Anji River, represents a major technological milestone in railway bridge construction in mountainous terrain.
• New Pamban Railway Bridge (Tamil Nadu): India’s first vertical-lift sea bridge, a 2.08-km structure with advanced corrosion-protection systems, ensuring long-term durability in harsh marine conditions and maintaining critical rail connectivity to Rameswaram, a major pilgrimage and tourism centre.
• Network Expansion: Since 2014, Indian Railways has significantly improved connectivity in the North-East by laying over 1,679 km of new tracks, electrifying 2,500+ route km, and constructing 470+ road overbridges/underbridges.
• Capital Connectivity Milestone: Commissioning of the Bairabi–Sairang new line has connected Aizawl to the national rail network for the first time, making it the fourth North-Eastern capital with rail connectivity.
• Infrastructure Modernisation & Integration: 60 stations are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, while key projects like Sivok–Rangpo, Dimapur–Kohima, and Jiribam–Imphal are advancing, strengthening economic and social integration of the region with the rest of India.
• Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) Network Expansion: The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (Ludhiana–Sonnagar, 1,337 km) has been fully commissioned and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust(JNPT)–Dadri, 1,506 km; 93.2% commissioned), together covering 2,843 km (96.4% operational).
  • It will significantly reduce passenger-route congestion, lowering logistics costs, cutting transit time and strengthening industrial and port connectivity to drive faster economic growth.
• High Speed Rail: The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project, implemented by National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited(NHSRCL), features advanced tunnelling works in Maharashtra and rolling-stock depots at Surat and Ahmedabad, representing India’s leap towards world-class high-speed rail connectivity by drastically reducing travel time between two major economic hubs.