Cabinet approves ₹20,667 crore for semi high-speed rail project connecting Ahmedabad-Dholera

📌 Summary:

• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on May 13, 2026 approved a semi high-speed double line rail project from Sarkhej (Ahmedabad) to Dholera, ~100 km long, at a total cost of ~₹20,667 crore
• Indian Railways describes it as its FIRST semi high-speed project planned with INDIGENOUSLY developed technology, to act as a reference model for phased nationwide expansion
• Project will link Ahmedabad with the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), the upcoming Dholera International Airport and the National Hi-Speed Manufacturing Cluster
• It will enhance connectivity to 284 villages (~5 lakh population) and add ~134 km to the Indian Railways network
• Cited as enabling same-day return commutes between the two cities and integrating with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity and logistical efficiency

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Infrastructure (Railways), Industrial Policy & Manufacturing; ties into PM Gati Shakti, Dedicated Industrial Corridors and indigenisation of rail technology (Atmanirbhar Bharat).

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Sanctioned cost: ₹20,667 crore; length: ~100 km between Sarkhej (Ahmedabad) and Dholera
• It is the FIRST semi high-speed rail project of Indian Railways with indigenously developed technology
• Dholera SIR is a node of the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) in Gujarat
• Connectivity will integrate with Dholera Airport and the National Hi-Speed Manufacturing Cluster
• Project is part of PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (launched 2021) for multi-modal logistics

🔑 Key Term: PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan — a digital, GIS-based platform launched in 2021 to integrate planning of 16 Ministries (Railways, Roads, Ports, Aviation, Power etc.) for seamless multi-modal infrastructure connectivity and reduced logistics cost.