Indian Railways approves ₹172-crore chord line to slash freight delays in Maharashtra

Indian Railways has greenlit a ₹172-crore project to construct a 3.7-km chord line in Maharashtra. The new Somtane-Chikhli link aims to boost rail efficiency for freight movement in the region. It will directly connect Chikhli on the Karjat route with Somtane on the Roha route. The project will eliminate the need for freight trains to enter Panvel Junction or perform time-consuming engine reversals. Trains travelling between the Karjat, Jasai and Roha corridors will benefit from a smoother, more direct path. This change is expected to save around 110 minutes of detention time for every freight train.

The new chord line will also free up capacity at Panvel Junction, streamlining train operations. It complements existing plans, such as the Panvel Elevated Chord Line projects on the JNPT-Karjat and JNPT-Roha sections. Once complete, the link should handle an additional nine million tonnes of freight annually.

The development holds special significance for Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA). The port manages nearly 60 per cent of India’s container traffic, making efficient rail connectivity critical. The Somtane-Chikhli chord line will improve logistics efficiency by cutting travel time and increasing freight capacity. It strengthens rail access to JNPA, the country’s busiest container port. The project supports broader efforts to enhance cargo movement in the region.