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The corridor also forms part of the shortest route connecting The additional lines are expected to increase capacity on existing
Gujarat and Maharashtra with Ujjain, and the upgraded highway routes, ease congestion, and improve operational efficiency and
is expected to manage higher traffic volumes, including during service reliability. The projects will cover five districts across West
the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in April 2028, while improving access Bengal and Jharkhand, strengthening regional rail connectivity INFRASTRUCTURE
to industrial hubs and logistics centers in Indore, Pithampur, Ujjain, and potentially benefiting around 5,652 villages with a combined
and Dewas. population of about 14.7 million.
The routes are vital for transporting commodities such as coal,
GOVERNMENT APPROVES `283 CRORE FOR DIMAPUR stone, dolomite, cement, slag, gypsum, iron and steel, foodgrains,
STATION MODERNISATION. and petroleum products. The capacity expansion is expected to
The Central government has approved `283 crore for the enable an additional 31 million tonnes of freight traffic annually.
modernisation of the historic Dimapur railway station in Nagaland, Planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the
a key rail hub in the Northeast, state Health and Family Welfare projects aim to improve multimodal connectivity and logistics
Minister P. Pawang Konyak told the Assembly recently. efficiency. The government said the increased rail freight could
Speaking during a discussion on the station’s status, Konyak reduce logistics costs and fuel consumption, potentially cutting oil
highlighted that Dimapur remains the second highest revenue- imports by 60 million litres and lowering carbon dioxide emissions
earning railway station in the Northeast. He added that both the by 280 million kilograms. These projects represent a significant
concerned department and landowners have written to the step toward modernizing India’s railway network while supporting
Ministry of Railways seeking compensation, and are currently sustainable and efficient transport solutions.
awaiting a response.
Dimapur, Nagaland’s main commercial city, is located about CHENNAI PORT–MADURAVOYAL DOUBLE-TIER CORRIDOR
70 km from the state capital, Kohima. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 2027 COMPLETION.
emphasised the need for an amicable settlement of land-related The 4-lane, double-tier elevated corridor connecting Chennai
issues to ensure the modernisation project proceeds smoothly. Port to Maduravoyal, being constructed at a cost of over `3,500
In his remarks, Chief Minister Rio noted that the Dimapur Railway crore, is scheduled for completion by November 2027, according
Station, inaugurated in 1903, predates the formation of Nagaland to Virender Sambal, Regional Officer of the National Highway
as a state in 1963. At the time, certain constitutional provisions Authority of India (NHAI).
regarding land ownership did not exist, and railway authorities The 20.9 km-long project was originally initiated in 2010 but
had occupied land for railway purposes long before the state terminated in 2016, before being restarted in 2023 following
came into existence. Over the years, encroachments increased, requests from the Tamil Nadu government and the Chennai Port
and some were regularised, complicating the current situation. Trust, guided by a technical committee. The corridor’s double-tier
Chief Minister Rio called for constructive dialogue between the design will efficiently segregate different types of traffic, improving
state government and Indian Railways to reach an amicable flow and safety. The project is expected to significantly enhance
solution, particularly regarding compensation for landowners, Chennai Port’s cargo handling capacity, increasing it from the
while cautioning that demands should not be excessively high. current 53 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to an estimated 200
During the discussion, National People’s Party MLA Nuklutoshi mtpa by 2047, the NHAI release said. The corridor is seen as a key
highlighted long-standing negligence by various stakeholders, infrastructure initiative to strengthen logistics and trade efficiency
noting that the Northeast Frontier Railway remained silent for years in the region.
as illegal constructions emerged on railway land. He outlined
three possible options for resolving land issues: compensation for CABINET GREENLIGHTS `3,631 CR ELEVATED CORRIDOR
resettlement, forceful eviction, or relocating the station. FOR JEWAR AIRPORT–DELHI–MUMBAI EXPRESSWAY
MLA Nuklutoshi added that while new railway expansion projects CONNECTIVITY.
towards Kohima and other areas are planned, those stations The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of a greenfield
would be smaller, and Dimapur will continue to serve as the state’s connectivity corridor linking Noida International Airport with the
main railway station. Faridabad–Ballabhgarh–Sohna spur of the Delhi–Mumbai
The modernisation project of Dimapur railway station is expected Expressway, at a revised cost of `3,631 crore.
to upgrade facilities, improve infrastructure, and reinforce its role The project will include a 7.8-km elevated corridor designed to
as a critical rail hub for Nagaland and the Northeast region. provide direct connectivity between the upcoming airport and
the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway network, improving regional access
RAIL CONNECTIVITY BOOST: `4,474-CRORE and reducing travel time.
MULTITRACKING PROJECTS GREENLIT IN EAST INDIA. The government said around 7.8 km of the alignment will pass
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) recently through notified urban limits under the Faridabad Master Plan
approved two major railway multitracking projects in West Bengal 2031, forming part of the broader effort to strengthen connectivity
and Jharkhand, with an estimated cost of `4,474 crore. to the new airport.
The projects involve constructing a fourth railway line on the The corridor is expected to enhance road access to the upcoming
Sainthia–Pakur and Santragachi–Kharagpur sections. Scheduled airport and support traffic movement across the National Capital
for completion by 2030–31, the works will add approximately 192 Region, particularly along the Faridabad–Ballabhgarh–Sohna
km to Indian Railways’ existing network. route linked to the expressway network.

FEBRUARY 2026|CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES 67