New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved two key multi-tracking railway projects with a total investment of ₹6,405 crore.
The first project involves the doubling of the 133 km Koderma–Barkakana railway line in Jharkhand, a region rich in coal production. This line also serves as the shortest and most efficient rail route between Patna and Ranchi, making it a strategically vital corridor.
The second project focuses on doubling the 185 km Ballari–Chikjajur railway line, which runs through Ballari and Chitradurga districts in Karnataka and Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh.
Combined, these projects span 318 km and cover seven districts across Jharkhand, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. The initiative is expected to create around 108 lakh man-days of employment during construction.
According to the official statement, the enhanced railway capacity will improve mobility, operational efficiency, and service reliability for Indian Railways. The multi-tracking work is expected to benefit around 1,408 villages, home to a population of nearly 28.19 lakh.
These projects are aligned with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a ‘New India’ and are part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan for integrated and multi-modal connectivity. They aim to promote economic self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) by boosting employment and infrastructure development.
Additionally, the upgraded railway lines are crucial for transporting essential commodities like coal, iron ore, steel, cement, fertilizers, agricultural goods, and petroleum products. The improved capacity is projected to handle an additional 49 million tonnes of freight annually (MTPA).
With Indian Railways being an energy-efficient and eco-friendly mode of transport, these upgrades will contribute to India’s climate goals by reducing oil imports by 52 crore litres and lowering CO₂ emissions by 264 crore kg—equivalent to planting 11 crore trees.