An MoU for implementation of the 362 km Indore- Manmad New Railway Line Project was signed between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust- Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Railways, Govt of Maharashtra and Govt of Madhya Pradesh. Containers and other rail traffic from Indore and other Central Indian locations earlier had to follow a circuitous route through Vadodara and Surat to reach Mumbai, Pune and ports like JNPT, travelling a distance of 815 km. The new project will reduce the distance from Mumbai/Pune to key central India locations by 171 kilometres, resulting in lower logistics costs.  This is especially significant as the new railway line will pass through the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor nodes of Igatpuri, Nashik and Sinnar; Pune and Khed; and Dhule and Nardana.

The MoU was signed in the presence of  Minister of  Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Nitin Gadkari,  Minister for Railways Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Defence Shri Subhash Bhamre, Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh - Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Maharashtra CM - Shri Devendra Phadnavis.  

The implementation of the project will be through the Indian Port Rail Corporation Limited (IPRCL) on Joint Venture  SPV model. A Joint Venture Company will be formed between Ministry of Shipping or its nominated PSUs/Entity including JNPT (which will be the main promoter) with equity share of 55 per cent, Government of Maharashtra or its nominated PSUs/Entity, Government of Madhya Pradesh or its nominated PSUs/Entity, and others with equity share of 15 per cent each. 

The project will be constructed within six years.