Cabinet approves Rs 20,667 cr Ahmedabad-Dholera semi high-speed rail corridor

Ahmedabad: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved the Rs 20,667 crore Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)-Dholera semi high-speed double-line railway project, marking Indian Railways’ first corridor planned with indigenously developed technology.

The 134-km corridor, expected to be completed within four years, will connect Ahmedabad with Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), the upcoming Dholera International Airport and National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Lothal. The line is expected to reduce travel time between Sarkhej and Dholera to around 34 minutes, enabling daily commuting and same day return travel.

The project will include 13 stations and is aimed at supporting both passenger and freight movement. Govt officials said the corridor was being developed as a reference model for the phased expansion of semi high-speed rail networks across the country.

The railway line has been planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan with a focus on integrated multi-modal connectivity and logistics efficiency. The corridor is expected to improve mobility and connectivity across industrial, logistics and urban clusters emerging around Dholera.

Officials said the project will directly improve connectivity to around 284 villages with a combined population of nearly five lakh people.

The Centre said the rail corridor would also contribute towards environmental goals by promoting rail-based transport. According to official estimates, the project is expected to help reduce oil imports by around 0.48 crore litres and lower carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 2 crore kg, equivalent to the plantation of around 10 lakh trees.