The Indian government has approved a new 174-kilometer railway project to enhance connectivity to the Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Maharashtra. This ambitious initiative, costing Rs 7,106 crore, will significantly reduce travel distance between Jalna and Jalgaon by nearly 50%, from 336 km to 174 km, and is expected to be completed within 4 to 5 years. The project will feature India’s longest transport tunnel, at 23.5 kilometers, and is anticipated to generate 60 lakh man-days of employment while reducing CO2 emissions by 54 crore kilograms, equivalent to planting 2.2 crore trees. It aims to stimulate regional industrial growth and improve connectivity between Marathwada, North Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and coastal areas of Gujarat. The project will require the acquisition of 935 hectares of land and is a joint effort between the Maharashtra government and Indian Railways. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the transformative impact this rail line will have on tourism and local economies.