Indian Railways Approves Somtane–Chikhli Chord Line to Boost Freight Movement in Maharashtra
In a major infrastructure push aimed at enhancing freight transportation and strengthening connectivity to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Indian Railways has approved the construction of the 3.7-km Somtane–Chikhli Chord Line in Maharashtra at a cost of ₹172 crore.
The project will create a direct rail connection between the Karjat and Roha routes, enabling freight trains to bypass the heavily congested Panvel Junction. Currently, trains moving between the Karjat, Jasai and Roha corridors are required to enter Panvel and undergo engine reversal, leading to significant delays and operational bottlenecks.
With the new chord line, freight trains linked to JNPT—the country’s largest container port handling nearly 60 percent of India’s container traffic—will enjoy seamless movement, reducing detention time by nearly 110 minutes per train.
The rail link is expected to facilitate an additional 9 million tonnes of freight traffic annually and complement the ongoing Panvel Elevated Chord Line projects. Officials believe the project will improve logistics efficiency, enhance cargo evacuation from JNPT and support Maharashtra’s growing industrial and trade sectors while reducing pressure on one of Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s busiest railway junctions.
