Cabinet Approves ₹20667 Crore Ahmedabad–Dholera Semi High-Speed Rail Project
India’s first indigenously developed semi high-speed railway line to enhance connectivity to Dholera SIR and upcoming airport
According to the government, the new railway line will provide faster connectivity between Ahmedabad, Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), the upcoming Dholera Airport and the Lothal National Maritime Heritage Complex.
New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)–Dholera Semi High-Speed Double Line rail project of the Ministry of Railways at an estimated cost of ₹20,667 crore.
The project, planned for completion by 2030–31, will be India’s first semi high-speed railway project developed using indigenous technology.
According to the government, the new railway line will provide faster connectivity between Ahmedabad, Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), the upcoming Dholera Airport and the Lothal National Maritime Heritage Complex.
The ministry said the project is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Ahmedabad and Dholera, enabling comfortable daily commuting and same-day return journeys.
Officials described the project as a pioneer initiative that will serve as a reference model for the phased expansion of semi high-speed rail networks across India.
The proposed rail corridor will add nearly 134 km to the Indian Railways network and improve connectivity to around 284 villages with a combined population of approximately five lakh people.
The government said the project aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of building a “New India” by promoting infrastructure-led regional development and generating employment and self-employment opportunities.
The railway project has been planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan with an emphasis on multimodal connectivity, logistics efficiency and integrated infrastructure planning.
According to the ministry, the project is also expected to contribute towards environmental sustainability by reducing dependence on road transport and lowering carbon emissions.
The rail corridor is projected to:
- reduce oil imports by about 0.48 crore litres
- lower CO₂ emissions by nearly 2 crore kg
- create environmental benefits equivalent to planting around 10 lakh trees
The government said the project would strengthen passenger mobility, logistics efficiency and long-term regional economic integration in Gujarat.
