The Ministry of Railways has approved the construction of a third railway line between Nimpura and Midnapur in West Bengal at an estimated cost of ₹440 crore. The project is aimed at easing congestion on one of the busiest sections of the Kharagpur–Adra route, improving operational efficiency and supporting the movement of both passenger and freight trains.
The approved project covers a 27.32-km stretch between Nimpura and Midnapur under the South Eastern Railway zone. The additional line is expected to decongest the existing corridor, reduce train detention and improve punctuality by enabling smoother train operations on the heavily utilised route.
According to railway officials, the third line will significantly enhance line capacity, allowing Indian Railways to accommodate increasing traffic while supporting faster movement of freight to ports, industrial centres and mineral-bearing regions. The project is also expected to strengthen connectivity across southern West Bengal and neighbouring states.
The scheme forms part of Indian Railways’ ongoing network capacity augmentation programme, which focuses on adding new lines, doubling and multi-tracking projects to improve operational flexibility and meet rising transportation demand. The investment is expected to boost regional economic activity while supporting infrastructure development in the state.
The project will now move into the implementation phase, with detailed engineering, tendering and construction activities to be undertaken in accordance with the approved schedule.
