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Railway High-Density Networks: Multitracking Projects [Prelims Bits]

10 Sep 2026

Tags: Prelims   Current events of national and international importance

Source: The Indian Express

  • Context: The Union Cabinet approved 8 multitracking projects covering 1,196 km, costing ₹20,804 crore, to decongest heavily utilised railway routes.
  • High-Density Network (HDN): Railway routes where passenger and freight train movement exceeds capacity across most sections, causing congestion and delays.
  • Significance: Seven HDNs carry about 40% of Indian Railways’ traffic; multitracking aims to improve capacity and reduce logistics costs.
  • Projects approved: Kharagpur–Jharsuguda, Bilaspur–Pendra Road, Katni–Pendra Road, Secunderabad–Kazipet, Arakkonam–Renigunta, Whitefield–Bangarapet, Hosur–Omalur and Salem–Karur–Dindigul.
  • Key corridors: Projects fall mainly on the Mumbai–Kolkata and Mumbai–Chennai HDNs, among the seven HDNs.
  • Kharagpur–Jharsuguda: Part of Howrah–Mumbai HDN; existing capacity utilisation is about 118%.
  • Bilaspur–Pendra Road: Part of the Bilaspur–Anuppur highly utilised network; important for freight and passenger movement.
  • Katni–Pendra Road: Connects mineral-rich eastern India; serves major South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) coalfields.
  • Secunderabad–Kazipet: Important coal-transport route, particularly from the Singareni coalfields, and a major commuter route.
  • Arakkonam–Renigunta: Part of Mumbai–Chennai HDN; existing line is about 120% saturated.
  • Whitefield–Bangarapet: Part of the Manmad–Hubballi–Bengaluru–Jolarpettai highly utilised network; existing saturation about 105%.
  • Southern projects: Hosur–Omalur and Salem–Karur–Dindigul doubling will improve connectivity towards Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
  • HDNs vs HUNs: High-Density Networks (HDNs) are specifically identified as major passenger-freight routes operating beyond capacity, while Highly Utilised Networks (HUNs) are routes with high capacity utilisation but form a broader classification within railway network planning.

Prelims Question

Q1. Consider the following pairs:

Railway sectionAssociated significance
1. Kharagpur–JharsugudaPart of the Howrah–Mumbai High-Density Network
2. Katni–Pendra RoadConnectivity with major coalfields of South Eastern Coalfields Limited
3. Secunderabad–KazipetImportant route associated with coal movement from the Singareni coalfields
4. Arakkonam–ReniguntaPart of the Mumbai–Chennai High-Density Network

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Answer: (d)

Explanation:

  • Pair 1 is correctly matched: Kharagpur–Jharsuguda forms part of the Howrah–Mumbai HDN and has high capacity utilisation.
  • Pair 2 is correctly matched: Katni–Pendra Road serves mineral-rich areas and provides access to important SECL coalfields.
  • Pair 3 is correctly matched: Secunderabad–Kazipet is an important route for coal transportation, particularly from the Singareni coalfields.
  • Pair 4 is correctly matched: Arakkonam–Renigunta forms part of the Mumbai–Chennai HDN and is a highly saturated route.

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