Govt Clears ₹9,450 Crore Rail Projects
Four multitracking projects across four states to add 410 km to Indian Railways network by 2030-31
- Cabinet approves four railway multitracking projects worth ₹9,450 crore.
- Projects to add about 410 km to the Indian Railways network.
- Rail connectivity to improve across West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
- Capacity expansion to boost freight movement, tourism and regional development.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 19th Aug: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved four multitracking projects of the Ministry of Railways at an estimated cost of ₹9,450 crore, aimed at expanding rail capacity and improving connectivity across four states.
The projects, scheduled for completion by 2030-31, will increase the Indian Railways network by about 410 kilometres, covering eight districts in West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
The approved projects include:
- Kharagpur–Bhadrak (Ranital) 4th Line – 173 km (West Bengal and Odisha)
- Bhadrak–Haridaspur 4th Line – 75 km (Odisha)
- Gummidipundi–Gudur 3rd and 4th Line – 90 km (Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu)
- Cuttack–Paradeep (Badabandha) 3rd and 4th Line – 72 km (Odisha)
According to the government, the projects will significantly enhance line capacity, improve operational efficiency, increase service reliability and reduce congestion on key railway routes. The initiatives are aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed and self-reliant India by promoting economic growth and employment opportunities in the region.
Planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the projects focus on integrated infrastructure planning to improve multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency, ensuring seamless movement of passengers, goods and services.
The expanded network is expected to benefit nearly 6,448 villages with a combined population of around 60 lakh, while also improving rail access to major tourist destinations including Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhitarkanika National Park, Chandipur Beach, Pulicat Lake, Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Lalitgiri Buddhist site and several prominent temples.
The railway capacity augmentation will also strengthen freight transportation of commodities such as coal, iron ore, cement, iron and steel, containers, automobiles and food grains, supporting an additional freight movement of approximately 76 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).
The government said the projects will also contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing logistics costs, saving an estimated 13 crore litres of oil imports and lowering carbon dioxide emissions by around 65 crore kilograms, equivalent to the environmental benefit of planting 2.6 crore trees.
