In a significant infrastructure push poised to transform Haryana’s economic landscape, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday reviewed the progress of the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor (HORC)—a 121.7-kilometre semi-circular railway project aimed at revolutionizing connectivity and catalyzing industrial growth in the state’s western belt. Strategically aligned to run along the Kundli–Manesar–Palwal (KMP) Expressway, this transformative corridor is being developed jointly by the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC) and Indian Railways, with an investment of approximately ₹5,618 crore.
The HORC is not merely a transport initiative—it represents a paradigm shift in how Haryana is positioning itself in the national logistics map. Once operational, the rail corridor will offer seamless freight movement bypassing congested hubs like Delhi, thereby easing pressure on the saturated rail and road networks of the National Capital Region (NCR). The corridor will connect Palwal in the south to Sonipat in the north via key industrial zones including Sohna, Manesar, and Kharkhoda—regions that are witnessing a rapid influx of investment under the Haryana Enterprise Promotion Policy.
CM Nayab Saini, in his address during the project review meeting, underlined the corridor’s critical role in Haryana’s vision for sustainable industrial expansion. He noted that the HORC would serve as a backbone for multi-modal logistics parks, warehousing clusters, and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) planned along the KMP corridor. “The Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor is not just a line on the map—it is a lifeline for our manufacturing and export-driven future,” he stated.
What makes the HORC particularly significant is its planned integration with the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) being developed by the central government. By interlinking with this national freight backbone, the HORC will allow industries in Haryana to dispatch goods toward key ports like Mundra, Kandla, and Mumbai without touching Delhi. This directness is expected to reduce logistics time and cost by up to 25%, making Haryana more competitive as a production and export hub.
As of July 2025, land acquisition for over 90% of the alignment has been completed, and civil works are underway in multiple stretches. The project includes the construction of 17 railway stations, over 250 bridges, and advanced signaling systems compatible with freight and passenger trains. According to HRIDC officials, the corridor is designed to handle speeds of up to 160 km/h and is expected to be fully electrified and operational by mid-2027.
The Haryana government is also exploring the possibility of running regional rapid transit services (RRTS) along parts of the HORC to serve the growing commuter population between industrial townships and residential suburbs. This dual-use model could become a benchmark for future infrastructure development across India, balancing both cargo and commuter needs without sacrificing efficiency.
Political analysts see the HORC as a showcase project for CM Saini’s administration, signaling a forward-thinking governance style that prioritizes infrastructure as the foundation for long-term prosperity. The government has already begun promoting investment zones along the rail corridor, offering incentives to logistics companies, warehousing investors, and small-scale industrialists under a single-window policy regime. With GST-based logistics models gaining ground, the HORC is expected to spur new job creation in supply chain, transport, and maintenance services across at least eight districts.
Residents living near the corridor alignment have voiced cautious optimism. While some concerns about land compensation and relocation remain, the promise of enhanced connectivity, rising property values, and local employment opportunities has turned the project into a beacon of development, particularly in lesser-known industrial zones like Nuh, Jhajjar, and Rewari.
Economists view the HORC as Haryana’s most important infrastructure undertaking since the KMP Expressway itself. By offering a parallel freight movement axis outside Delhi, the corridor is set to rebalance industrial logistics across northern India. The vision, however, depends on consistent inter-agency coordination, financial discipline, and technological execution—challenges that CM Saini’s team appears determined to meet head-on.
As India eyes a $5 trillion economy, the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor symbolizes the infrastructure-first approach that states are adopting to stake their claim in the country’s economic future. If completed on schedule and integrated effectively with national freight corridors, HORC could well become the new engine of Haryana’s industrial momentum.
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