New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved two railway multi-tracking projects worth Rs 3,907 crore for Jharkhand and Odisha. The projects will expand the Indian Railways network by nearly 145 km across four districts in the two states.
The government said the additional rail lines will significantly improve network capacity, enabling smoother train operations, greater efficiency and enhanced service reliability.
The projects are expected to improve rail connectivity for nearly 1,526 villages with a combined population of around 14 lakh. They will also provide better access to several important tourist destinations, including the Lalitgiri Buddhist Complex, Shree Baladevjew Temple and the Meghahatuburu Hills.
According to an official Cabinet statement, the railway corridors are crucial for transporting key commodities such as coal, iron ore, dolomite, limestone and gypsum.
Once completed, the projects are expected to increase freight handling capacity by an additional 44 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), strengthening the country’s logistics network.
The government said that rail transport, being an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient mode of transportation, will help reduce logistics costs, save around six crore litres of imported fuel and cut carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 29 crore kilograms. This environmental benefit is equivalent to planting around one crore trees.
The multi-tracking projects are also expected to ease congestion on busy rail routes, resulting in faster movement of both passenger and freight trains.
The Cabinet said the projects are aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed and self-reliant India and are expected to generate new employment and self-employment opportunities while supporting the overall economic development of the region.
Planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the projects aim to strengthen multimodal connectivity and improve logistics efficiency through integrated infrastructure planning. The government said the upgraded railway network will ensure smoother movement of passengers, goods and services across the region.
With inputs from IANS