According to reports, as many as 52 projects for rail connectivity to ports are underway with an investment of Rs 44,605 crore. These projects are being undertaken by the Indian Port Rail Corporation (IPRCL) and the Ministry of Railways. IPRCL has taken up 32 projects worth Rs 182.53 billion across nine major ports, of which eight projects worth Rs 1.75 billion have been completed.

In addition, 23 rail connectivity projects worth Rs 248.77 billion under Sagarmala have being taken up by the Ministry of Railways, out of which seven projects entailing investment of Rs 24.91 billion have been completed. Another 15 rail connectivity projects worth Rs 41.93 billion have been taken up, out of which three projects worth Rs 520 million have been completed.

Meanwhile, an agreement for implementation of the 362 km Indore-Manmad new railway line project has been signed recently between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, Ministry of Railways and the governments of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

The new project will reduce the distance from Mumbai/Pune to key central India locations by 171 km.