Railways Plan 5th & 6th Lines on High-Density Corridors Connecting Howrah with Major Metros

Main Article
Sat, Mar 07, 02:09 AM IST

In a major step toward strengthening India’s railway infrastructure, the Ministry of Railways (India) has begun preparations to lay 5th and 6th railway lines on key high-density corridors connecting the country’s major metro cities, including Howrah, Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.

 

The expansion aims to significantly increase rail capacity, allowing more passenger and freight trains to operate smoothly on some of the busiest railway routes in the country.

 

The High Density Network (HDN), which spans 11,051 km, forms the backbone of Indian Railways. Despite accounting for only 16% of the total railway network, it handles nearly 41% of India’s total rail traffic.

 

Currently, around 8,400 km of the HDN corridors are operating at 100–150% of their line capacity, making infrastructure expansion essential to reduce congestion and improve efficiency.

 

The seven major HDN corridors include:

 

  • Delhi – Howrah (1,422 km)
  • Howrah – Mumbai (2,039 km)
  • Delhi – Mumbai (1,321 km)
  • Delhi – Guwahati (1,875 km)
  • Delhi – Chennai (2,041 km)
  • Howrah – Chennai (1,117 km)
  • Mumbai – Chennai (1,238 km)

 

With Howrah serving as one of the most important railway gateways for eastern India, the proposed expansion is expected to enhance connectivity, improve freight movement, and support economic activity across the region.

 

This development could play a crucial role in making India’s rail network more efficient while strengthening links between the country’s major economic centres.