New Railway Lines in Bundelkhand
New Railway Lines in Bundelkhand
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 604
ANSWERED ON: 20.11.2025
New Railway Lines in Bundelkhand
Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma
Pushpendra Singh Chandel
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:-
(a) the total length of new railway lines in kilometre laid down under rail network in the country during the last three years along with the project being implemented by the Government to bring such areas under rail network which are still deprived of such facility and the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government proposes to lay down any new railway line in Bundelkhand area;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government has also considered the plan of connecting the tourist and religious centres of Bundelkhand through railway routes and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a): Total New Railway lines laid in the Country in the last three years are as under:-
2016-17 – 953 Km
2017-18 – 409 Km
2018-19 – 480 Km.
Most of the new line projects have been taken up primarily on socio-economic considerations in backward and remote areas for the speedy development of economically backward areas and presently 188 New Line Projects of length 21,295 km costing Rs.3.87 lakh crore are in different stage of planning/sanction/execution, out of which, 2,622 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of Rs.85,536 crores has been incurred till March, 2025.
Thorough review of throughput enhancement projects has been carried out and with focussed approach, the projects have been prioritized into Super Critical Projects (58 nos), Critical Projects (68 nos.) and other throughput enhancement projects (130 nos.).
Presently, the balance length of Super Critical Projects is 2347 Km, 5676 Km of Critical Projects and 9703 Km for other Doubling Projects. The throw-forward for these projects is of the order of Rs.1.84 lakh crores and all out sincere and focussed approach is being adopted by Railway for quick execution and early return to Railways.
(b) to (d): For further development of the area around Bundelkhand, one New Line Project namely Lalitpur-Khajuraho-Satna & Rewa-Singrauli of length 541 km is under execution. Up to March, 2025, 230 km has been commissioned and balance work has been taken up. This line will serve the world famous heritage tourist destination named Khajuraho.
Here’s a snapshot of significant new and proposed railway lines in the Bundelkhand region (Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh) as of 2025:
Contents
🚆 New & Proposed Railway Lines in Bundelkhand
1. Mahoba–Rath–Bhind New Railway Line (≈ 217 km)
- A new broad-gauge railway line of approx. 217 km, proposed to connect Mahoba (via Rath) in UP to Bhind, MP. The Ministry of Railways has approved the location survey, and field surveys have commenced. The route includes plans for three junctions and multiple stations, aimed at improving connectivity across Mahoba, Rath, and Bhind districts
2. Jhansi–Bina 3rd Line Project (~153 km)
- This project targets the addition of a third line between Jhansi (UP) and Bina (MP).
- As of August 2025, 134 km have already been commissioned, enhancing capacity for both passenger and freight trains in the Bundelkhand region
3. General Multi-Tracking Initiatives
- The Indian Railways has recently obtained Union Cabinet approval for four major multi-tracking projects (totaling 574 km) across six states, including Madhya Pradesh, which contains part of Bundelkhand. These developments aim to decongest key routes and lower logistics costs, though the specific corridors have not been detailed
🔍 Additional Connectivity Boost: Rail Stops & Surveys
- Orchha railway station (Tourism-focused)
Since May 30, 2025, two express trains—Khajuraho‑Udaipur Intercity Express and Bundelkhand Express (Gwalior–Varanasi)—have begun scheduled halts at Orchha station, enhancing access for residents and tourists alike. This aims to promote heritage tourism and regional mobility - Bahraich–Nanpara/Mailani–Bheera Kheri Survey
Though outside Bundelkhand proper, this 120 km new broad-gauge alignment survey has been approved, reflecting broader rail expansion trends in Uttar Pradesh
📋 Summary Table
| Project | Route / Feature | Status | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mahoba–Rath–Bhind Line | New broad-gauge line via Rath | Survey ordered; DPR underway | ~217 km |
| Jhansi–Bina 3rd Line | Additional line between Jhansi and Bina | 134 km commissioned by Aug 2025 | ~153 km |
| Multi‑tracking (Bundelkhand region) | Additional lines/decongestion | Cabinet approval; alignment pending | Part of 574 km across several states |
| Express train halts at Orchha | Orchha station added to train schedules | Halts operational since May 2025 | N/A |
✅ Why It Matters for Bundelkhand
- These proposed and sanctioned rail projects target development of historically underserved areas, fostering better connectivity between districts in UP and MP.
- The Mahoba–Bhind connection in particular promises to spur economic and social development across central Bundelkhand.
- The Jhansi–Bina third line enhances railway network redundancy and capacity, improving freight and passenger flow across state borders.
🔍 What’s Next?
- Keep an eye on updates to the DPR and tender issuance for the Mahoba–Bhind project.
- Track announcements for the remaining 19 km commissioning of the Jhansi–Bina corridor.
- Watch for detailed alignment plans under the multi-tracking proposals, especially routes impacting Madhya Pradesh’s Bundelkhand districts.
Would you like to explore any specific corridor further—like estimated timelines, economic impact, or local station planning? I can dive deeper.