Cabinet Approves 410 Km Railway Expansion Projects Worth ₹9,450 Crore (Img: Eastern Railway)
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved four multitracking projects of the Ministry of Railways with a total estimated cost of around Rs 9,450 crore, aimed at enhancing rail capacity, easing congestion and improving connectivity across West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Briefing newsmen, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced that the projects would add about 410 km to the existing Indian Railways network and significantly improve the movement of passengers and freight.
The approved projects include 173-km fourth line between Kharagpur and Bhadrak in West Bengal and Odisha; the 75 km fourth line between Bhadrak and Haridaspur in Odisha; the 90 km third and fourth lines between Gummidipundi and Gudur in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; and the 72 km third and fourth lines between Cuttack and Paradeep in Odisha.
The projects are scheduled for completion by 2030-31 and will cover eight districts across the four states. According to the government, the additional lines will improve operational efficiency and service reliability while helping streamline train operations and reduce congestion on some of the important railway routes.
The four projects are expected to improve connectivity to around 6,448 villages with a combined population of nearly 60 lakh people. It will also contribute to comprehensive regional development and create greater opportunities for employment and self-employment.
The projects also cover strategically important freight routes carrying commodities such as coal, iron ore, cement, iron and steel, containers, automobiles and foodgrains.
