Maharashtra: Kasara–Manmad 3rd & 4th Rail Lines Approved; Rs 10,154 Crore Sanctioned
Mumbai/New Delhi, 14th February 2026: The Union Cabinet, in a briefing held on Saturday, February 14, 2026, approved the construction of the 3rd and 4th railway lines between Kasara and Manmad. The infrastructure project, valued at ₹10,154 crore, is designed to significantly decongest the high-density Mumbai–Howrah route.
The 131-km expansion, traversing the Thane and Nashik districts of Maharashtra, is a critical development aimed at connecting Eastern, Central, and Western India. With a completion timeline set for five years, the project seeks to address the high demand for both passenger and freight traffic in the region.
Operational and Engineering Overhaul
A major operational efficiency to be gained from this project is the removal of the requirement for banking engines in the challenging Kasara-Igatpuri section. The engineering blueprint involves a total track length of 316 km and features complex structural additions, including five tunnels, with the longest tunnel spanning 24 km.
The infrastructure upgrade will also necessitate the construction of:
3 important bridges
16 major bridges and 218 minor bridges
5 Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and 21 Road Under Bridges (RUBs)
Economic and Environmental Impact
The project is projected to facilitate additional freight traffic of 46.1 million tons per annum, catering to key economic nodes such as ports, power plants, Multi-modal logistic hubs, and Inland Container Depots (ICDs). Officials estimate a logistic cost saving of ₹1,207 crore annually.
On the environmental front, the rail expansion is expected to result in a CO2 saving of 54 crore kg every year, a figure equivalent to the carbon sequestration of approximately 2.2 crore trees. Furthermore, the construction phase is anticipated to generate 89 lakh human-days of employment.
Connectivity and Tourism
Beyond industrial benefits, the additional lines will support the introduction of more passenger trains. This is expected to enhance connectivity to major tourist and pilgrimage destinations, specifically the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga in Nashik, Bhavli Dam, and the Shri Ghatandevi Mata Mandir.
