Haryana clears revised rail project cost, sharpens focus on freight mobility

The Haryana government has approved a revised outlay of ₹11,709 crore for key rail infrastructure projects, signalling a renewed push to strengthen freight movement across the National Capital Region and adjoining industrial belts.

At the centre of this plan is the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor, a long-pending project designed to ease congestion on Delhi’s saturated rail network while improving connectivity between major logistics hubs. Officials said progress on civil works has gathered pace, with tunnelling already crossing the halfway mark and land acquisition nearing completion in most stretches.

The Kurukshetra elevated rail track is also approaching commissioning and is expected to be operational by April. Once opened, it will address a critical bottleneck on a route that handles both passenger and freight traffic.

The revised cost reflects both escalation in construction expenses and the expanded scope of works, including additional safety and capacity enhancements. State officials argue that the investment is justified given the corridor’s role in linking industrial clusters across Sonipat, Palwal and other manufacturing zones to the wider rail network.

Beyond easing congestion, the corridor is expected to reduce transit time for goods trains and improve reliability for supply chains that currently depend on overburdened routes through Delhi. This assumes greater significance as northern states compete to attract manufacturing investments that rely heavily on efficient logistics.

The decision also underlines a broader shift in infrastructure planning, where rail corridors are being aligned with industrial growth rather than treated as standalone transport projects. For Haryana, the success of the orbital corridor could determine how effectively it integrates into the larger freight ecosystem emerging across northern India.