en.Wedoany.com Reported - Indian Railways has approved the construction of the Somtane-Chikhli connecting line on the Central Railway, spanning 3.7 kilometers with a total investment of Rs 1.72 billion. The project aims to enhance railway capacity and improve freight efficiency in Maharashtra.

The new connecting line will bridge a critical missing link between Chikhli station on the Karjat line and Somtane station on the Roha line. Once completed, trains will be able to operate seamlessly between the Karjat and Roha corridors without needing to enter the congested Panvel junction or perform locomotive reversal operations.

Panvel is one of the busiest railway junctions in the Mumbai region, handling train traffic from four directions: Roha, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority/Trust (JNPA/JNPT), Karjat, and Diva. Due to the lack of a direct connection between the Karjat and Roha lines, trains must pass through Panvel junction, leading to operational constraints and congestion. The approved connecting line will provide a direct route, helping to streamline train operations and enhance network efficiency.

This project holds significant importance for freight traffic related to JNPT, which handles nearly 60% of India's container transport. Currently, freight trains operating between the Karjat, Jasai, and Roha corridors must enter Panvel junction and undergo locomotive reversal. Once the Somtane-Chikhli connecting line is operational, freight trains can bypass Panvel, saving approximately 110 minutes of waiting time per train, significantly improving turnaround efficiency and logistics speed.

Upon completion, the new connecting line is expected to handle an additional 9 million tons of traffic annually. This project complements the already approved Panvel elevated connecting line for the JNPT-Karjat and JNPT-Roha sections, filling a critical missing link in the freight connectivity network serving western India. This approval reflects Indian Railways' continued focus on capacity enhancement, multimodal transport connectivity, and efficient freight infrastructure development to support growing logistics and economic demands.

This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com