India's ₹172-crore chord line to slash freight delays in Maharashtra

Indian Railways has greenlit a ₹172-crore project to construct a 3.7-kilometre chord line in Maharashtra. The new link will connect Chikhli on the Karjat route with Somtane on the Roha route, aiming to boost freight efficiency in the region. Freight trains currently travelling between the Karjat, Jasai and Roha corridors must pass through Panvel Junction. This often requires time-consuming engine reversals, adding delays to journeys. The new chord line will eliminate this need, allowing direct travel between these points.

The project is set to save around 110 minutes of detention time for each freight train. It will also free up capacity at the busy Panvel Junction, streamlining operations. Once completed, the link is expected to handle an additional nine million tonnes of cargo annually.

The chord line holds particular significance for the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), which manages nearly 60% of India’s container traffic. It complements existing elevated chord line projects on the JNPT-Karjat and JNPT-Roha sections, further strengthening rail access to the country’s largest container port. The Somtane-Chikhli chord line will cut travel time and increase freight capacity. It supports the growing logistics demands of JNPA and improves connectivity for one of India’s busiest trade hubs. The project marks another step in enhancing rail infrastructure for cargo movement.