Indian Railways approves ₹497 crore doubling of Chouk-Karjat railway section in Maharashtra

Key Facts

• Indian Railways approved the doubling of the 10.86-km Chouk-Karjat railway section in Maharashtra on 18 September 2026.
• The project has a sanctioned cost of ₹497 crore.
• The section is under the Central Railway zone, headquartered in Mumbai.
• Doubling will enable five additional passenger trains in each direction daily.
• Freight traffic capacity will increase by 18.35 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).
• The project forms part of the Panvel-Chouk-Karjat route, a key corridor for passenger and freight traffic in the Mumbai metropolitan region.

Background & Context

The Chouk-Karjat section is currently a single-line railway stretch serving mixed traffic. Indian Railways often undertakes track doubling projects on busy routes to improve operational efficiency, increase capacity, and reduce congestion delays. Doubling involves adding a parallel track to an existing single-line section, which streamlines train movement for both freight and passenger operations. The project falls under Central Railway, one of the 18 zones of Indian Railways, emphasizing its administrative and operational jurisdiction.

Why This Matters for Exams

This project highlights Indian Railways' ongoing infrastructure development strategies aimed at capacity augmentation and service improvement on major routes. Understanding the role of track doubling, its benefits, and the zonal administrative structure of Indian Railways is critical for competitive exams focused on infrastructure, transport, and economic development sectors. The specific figures related to project length, cost, and operational benefits are commonly tested.

Points to Remember

• Track doubling increases route capacity and reduces train delays by adding a second track alongside the existing single line.
• The Chouk-Karjat section doubling is valued at ₹497 crore and spans 10.86 km.
• It is under the jurisdiction of Central Railway zone headquartered in Mumbai.
• Post-completion, the line will support five more passenger trains each way daily and an additional 18.35 MTPA of freight traffic.
• Track doubling projects are part of broader Indian Railways capacity enhancement measures including tripling, quadrupling, and bypasses.

Practice MCQs

Question 1

1. ₹250 crore
2. ₹497 crore
3. ₹700 crore
4. ₹1,000 crore

Answer: ₹497 crore

Question 2

1. Mumbai Division
2. Western Railway Zone
3. Central Railway Zone
4. Southern Railway Zone

Answer: Central Railway Zone

Question 3

1. 10.86 km
2. 15.23 km
3. 18.50 km
4. 25.00 km

Answer: 10.86 km