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The Ministry of Railways has approved the Champa–Korba Third Line Project in Chhattisgarh at an estimated cost of INR 755 crore to strengthen rail connectivity in one of India’s most important coal-producing regions. The project will add a third railway line along a key freight corridor connecting major coalfields with the national rail network. The capacity augmentation is expected to support rising coal production, improve freight movement efficiency, enhance passenger train operations and contribute to the country's growing energy requirements while generating additional railway revenue.
Indian Railways has approved the Champa–Korba Third Line Project, a 42-km rail infrastructure scheme under the South East Central Railway (SECR), with an estimated investment of INR 755 crore. The project aims to enhance rail capacity in Chhattisgarh’s coal-rich belt and strengthen freight movement along one of the country's critical energy transportation corridors.
The approved project involves the construction of a third railway line between Champa and Korba, excluding the already sanctioned Madwarani–Saragbundia section. The corridor has been identified under Indian Railways’ Mission 3000 MT and High-Density Network (HDN) initiatives, which focus on expanding freight-carrying capacity and supporting the nation’s growing industrial and energy needs.
Korba, often referred to as the “Power Capital of India”, hosts several thermal power plants and serves as a major coal transportation hub. The Champa–Korba section plays a crucial role in connecting the coalfields operated by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) and Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) with the national rail network and the Mumbai–Howrah High Density Corridor.
According to the Ministry of Railways, the route currently handles around 10 pairs of passenger trains and approximately 55 pairs of freight trains every day. The combined coal production capacity of SECL and MCL stands at about 247 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and is projected to increase to nearly 450 MTPA in the coming years, creating an additional coal transportation requirement of around 200 MTPA.
The third line is expected to significantly improve operational flexibility and carrying capacity while enabling faster movement of both passenger and freight services. Upon completion, the project is expected to facilitate the operation of two additional passenger train services in each direction daily and support incremental freight traffic of 5.95 MTPA.
Railways estimates that the project will generate additional annual net earnings of approximately INR 85 crore, including around INR 82 crore from freight operations and INR 3 crore from coaching services. The additional track is also expected to reduce detention time for freight trains, which currently face delays of about five minutes in each direction, resulting in operational savings estimated at INR 1.30 crore annually.
The Champa–Korba Third Line Project forms part of Indian Railways’ broader strategy to expand network capacity, improve freight efficiency, strengthen passenger services and support India's long-term infrastructure and energy development objectives.
Source:PIB
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