Champa-Korba third rail line to strengthen development, energy security: Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai

Chief Minister thanks Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw for approval of ₹ 755 crore Champa-Korba third rail line project

Raipur, June 17, 2026/ Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw for approving the ₹ 755 crore Champa-Korba third rail line project under the South East Central Railway.

Describing the project as a major boost to Chhattisgarh’s development, industrial growth and the country’s energy security, Chief Minister said the additional rail line will improve coal transportation from the coalfields linked to the Champa-Korba section and strengthen logistics support for meeting the nation’s growing energy needs.

Shri Sai said the project would also improve passenger convenience by easing rail traffic congestion, enabling smoother train operations and creating scope for additional passenger services in the future.

Highlighting Korba’s importance as the country’s energy capital, he said the rail corridor serves as a key link connecting coal mines operated by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) and Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) to the national rail network. The third line will significantly enhance freight handling capacity and operational efficiency, he added.

Chief Minister said the project will benefit the regional economy by improving connectivity, supporting industrial growth, attracting investment and generating employment opportunities in Korba, Janjgir-Champa and surrounding areas.

Shri Sai said the project reflects the Centre’s continued focus on strengthening railway infrastructure in Chhattisgarh. He noted that several railway projects, including new lines, doubling works and additional rail corridors, are underway in the state, while the Dharamjaigarh-Pathalgaon-Lohardaga rail project has recently been notified as a Special Railway Project.

He said more than ₹ 51,000 crore worth of railway infrastructure projects are currently being implemented in Chhattisgarh and that railway connectivity across the state is being expanded at an unprecedented pace under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He noted that while about 1,100 route km of rail lines were laid in Chhattisgarh between 1853 and 2014, the state’s rail network is now set to expand to more than 2,200 route km.

He added that the railway budget allocation for Chhattisgarh has increased from about ₹ 300 crore in 2014 to ₹ 7,470 crore in 2026-27. He added that 32 railway stations are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at a cost of ₹ 1,680 crore, further strengthening connectivity and infrastructure across the state.