Railway Line Reaches Chhattisgarh's Rowghat: 17.5-km Taroki-Rowghat Section Completed Under Dallirajhara-Rowghat Project

CCEA Approves 8 Railway Multi-Tracking Projects Worth ₹20,804 Cr Under PM Gati Shakti

CCEA approved eight railway multi-tracking projects costing ₹20,804 crore across nine states, adding 1,196 km to the Indian Railways network. The projects are planned under PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and will generate additional freight capacity of 74 MTPA. For exams, remember the split: first five projects cover TN, AP, Karnataka and Telangana; the other three cover WB, Jharkhand, Odisha, MP and Chhattisgarh.

New UPI MDR: Flat Rs 5 Charge on Railway Bookings Above Rs 2,000 from Oct 15, 2026

From October 15, 2026, UPI payments above Rs 2,000 for railway tickets will attract a flat Rs 5 Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) instead of the general 0.4% fee. Crucially, this charge is on the merchant side and will not be passed to passengers. This special category concession makes railway ticketing cheaper to process than regular merchant payments.

₹3,198 Cr Railway Projects for Seemanchal Bihar: 764 Km New Lines, 11 Projects, Katihar Redevelopment

Indian Railways has planned 764 km of new line projects worth ₹3,198 Cr to boost connectivity in Bihar's Seemanchal region, linking it with West Bengal and North-Eastern states. The expansion includes 11 projects at various stages, and Katihar Junction (handling 172 passenger trains daily) has been identified for redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

Cabinet Approves ₹13,041 Cr for Railway Multi-Tracking & NH-22 Highway to Decongest Howrah-Chennai Route

The Union Cabinet approved four railway multi-tracking projects and a four-lane highway project worth ₹13,041 crore to decongest the Howrah-Chennai high density route and improve connectivity in Bihar. These projects will add 410 km to the railway network and boost freight capacity by 76 MTPA, linking ports and industrial hubs.

PPPAC Approves 6 Railway Freight Lines Under HAM: ₹15,976 Cr Project Cost, 40% Govt Grant

In a first, Indian Railways will use the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) for 6 freight line projects spanning 647 km. The PPPAC under Ministry of Finance approved these projects with a total bid cost of ₹15,976 crore, with the government providing 40% grant during construction and bearing traffic and tariff risks. This marks a strategic shift from the DBFOT model to attract private investment.

PM Modi Inaugurates Alluri Sitarama Raju Airport: ₹4,700 Cr PPP Project in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh gets its first international airport after bifurcation (2014) with PM Modi inaugurating the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram. Built under PPP/DBFOT model by GMR Group at ₹4,700+ crore, it will decongest INS Dega and boost trade, tourism, and regional development.

Kerala Drops SilverLine; 873 km Railway Upgrade Underway for North-South Connectivity

Kerala has dropped the proposed SilverLine high-speed rail project. Instead, the state is focusing on a massive 873 km railway upgrade to improve north-south connectivity, with 267 km of projects already underway at a cost of ₹11,271 crore. This is a key infrastructure shift with implications for Kerala's development and the national rail network.

₹25,106 Cr for 18 Rail Projects to Boost Haldia Port Connectivity in Eastern India

Indian Railways has initiated 18 projects covering 2,455 km to decongest and enhance rail connectivity to Haldia Port, a key eastern gateway for freight. With a total sanctioned cost of ₹25,106 Cr for 8 projects, this is a major infrastructure push under PM Gati Shakti, directly relevant for Prelims data and Mains questions on logistics, port-rail integration, and regional development.