Why in news
- The Union Cabinet approved three railway multi-tracking projects spanning 655 km with a total outlay of ₹10,783 crore to relieve capacity bottlenecks.
Key terms
Multi-Tracking
Constructing additional parallel railway lines (doubling or tripling) to increase traffic capacity on saturated routes.
Freight Capacity (MTPA)
Million Tonnes Per Annum, measuring the total volume of goods a rail network can transport in a year.
What are the project specifics?
- Covers 655 km of high-density routes to augment line capacity and minimize train delays.
- Aims to add an incremental freight movement capacity of 26.69 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).
- Targets major freight sectors including coal, iron ore, cement, agricultural produce, and petroleum products.
Why it matters
- Eases severe congestion on high-density freight corridors, reducing logistical costs for core manufacturing industries.
- Supports India's target of boosting the railway freight share under the National Rail Plan 2030 while significantly cutting transport sector carbon emissions.
Prelims facts
- National Rail Plan targets increasing the modal share of railways in freight to 45% by 2030.
Mains discussion
- Evaluating the role of rail infrastructure multi-tracking in reducing national logistics cost and lowering carbon footprint.
Source: LiveMint
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.
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2026 · Q27 · General Studies · 2 marks
Which of the following statements with regard to the arrival of Amur Falcons at Doyang Lake in Nagaland each year from Mongolia is/are correct? 1. It showcases how sustained local conservation efforts can contribute to the arrival and protection of international migratory birds. 2. It reflects the global success of advanced tracking technologies that guide migratory birds back to their stopover sites. 3. It confirms that Amur Falcons have adapted to permanent residency in India due to favourable habitat changes. Select the answer using the code given below: -
2024 · Q34 · General Studies · 2 marks
Consider the following activities: 1. Identification of narcotics on passengers at airports or in aircraft 2. Monitoring of precipitation 3. Tracking the migration of animals In how many of the above activities can the radars be used? -
2025 · Q82 · General Studies · 2 marks
Consider the following statements: I. Indian Railways have prepared a National Rail Plan (NRP) to create a future ready railway system by 2028. II. 'Kavach' an Automatic Train Protection system developed in collaboration with Germany. III. 'Kavach' system consists of RFID tags fitted on track in station section. Which of the statements given above are not correct? -
2022 · Q1 · GS III · 10 marks
Why is Public Private Partnership (PPP) required in infrastructural projects ? Examine the role of PPP model in the redevelopment of Railway Stations in India. -
2026 · Q7 · GS III · 10 marks
Discuss how the contradiction between 'rapid infrastructure development' and 'disaster-risk reduction' in ecologically-sensitive areas of India can be managed, with suitable examples.