Editor’s Note
This article details the accelerated plans to connect Rajasthan’s Pachpadra Refinery to the rail network via a new 11-km line, a key infrastructure development for the region’s industrial growth.
The preparation to directly connect Rajasthan’s largest industrial project, the Pachpadra Refinery, to the railway network has accelerated. The North Western Railway has prepared a proposal to lay a new railway line of approximately 11 kilometers between Balotra and Pachpadra.
Once approval is received from the Railway Board, the survey work for this route will commence. According to railway sources, this survey will cost around 33 lakh rupees. A letter seeking approval was sent to the Board by the Zonal Railway last month.
According to information, the refinery will produce thousands of tons of output daily. If even half of this is transported via railways, the railways will earn hundreds of crores of rupees in additional freight revenue annually. Furthermore, with rail connectivity, petroleum products including petrol, diesel, and naphtha from the refinery will be able to reach major cities and ports across the country directly via wagons.
This will reduce supply costs and accelerate the fuel supply chain. Additionally, the safe, timely, and cost-effective movement of heavy machinery and raw materials will become possible. This will also prove to be a major economic achievement for the railways.
This proposed new line by the North Western Railway will also play a crucial role in enhancing freight connectivity with the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) in the future. Once connected to the DFC, products from the Pachpadra Refinery can reach the eastern and western coasts of the country rapidly.
In this context, there is a possibility of ground-level work starting on this project in the new year.
The refinery under construction in western Rajasthan is not just an industrial project but is emerging as a mega-project that will change the economic landscape of the entire region. The new railway line connected to the refinery is also considered the backbone of industrial development, which will not only improve logistics but also open up new opportunities for employment and investment.
Experts say this railway line could become the main axis for industrial progress in western Rajasthan in the future. Refinery-based ancillary industries will greatly benefit from it. A fast and smooth transport system will make the region more attractive for investors and create extensive employment opportunities at the local level. The rapid movement of goods is also expected to lead to a notable increase in business efficiency.
This proposed line by the North Western Railway will, in the future, connect with the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), further strengthening the nationwide freight transport network. With DFC connectivity, finished products from the refinery can reach the eastern and western coasts in minimal time.
Experts estimate that the possibility of ground-level work starting on this project in the new year is quite strong. From this perspective, this project will prove to be instrumental in securing a significant position for western Rajasthan on the national logistics map.
According to Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Suresh Gopi, several important units of the refinery have been completed. These include the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), Vacuum Distillation Unit (VDU), Fuel Hydro Treating Unit (FHTU), and Diesel Hydro Treating Unit (DHTU). All Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) processes have also been completed, indicating that the project is progressing while considering environmental standards alongside technical ones.
Over 52,877 crore rupees have been invested in the refinery project so far, and it will provide employment to thousands of people. Due to the project, infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water, training centers, and basic facilities are rapidly developing in the surrounding rural areas, improving the standard of living for local residents.
