Cabinet Greenlights Rs 6,456 Crore Railway Projects to Enhance Connectivity

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved three significant railway projects proposed by the Ministry of Railways, with a total estimated investment of Rs 6,456 crore. These projects are set to significantly improve logistical efficiency, connect previously unconnected regions, and expand the existing rail line capacity, thereby strengthening transportation networks and boosting economic growth.

Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressed a press conference, emphasizing that the newly approved rail lines will offer direct connectivity and enhanced mobility, thus increasing the operational efficiency and reliability of Indian Railways. The multi-tracking initiatives are expected to ease operations and reduce congestion on some of the busiest railway sections, contributing to much-needed infrastructural advancements.

Vaishnaw highlighted that these projects align with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a self-reliant India ("Atmanirbhar Bharat"), promoting comprehensive regional development and creating new employment and self-employment opportunities. The projects are part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity, which aims to achieve seamless integration for the movement of people, goods, and services through strategic and integrated planning.

The approved projects will span seven districts across four states—Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh—adding approximately 300 kilometers to the Indian Railways network. Fourteen new stations will be constructed, enhancing connectivity for two aspirational districts, Nuapada in Odisha and East Singhbhum in Jharkhand. These new rail lines will connect around 1,300 villages and impact approximately 11 lakh people, while the multi-tracking projects will further extend connectivity to another 1,300 villages, benefiting around 19 lakh people.

These routes are vital for the transportation of key commodities, including agricultural products, fertilizers, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, and limestone. The capacity enhancement will accommodate an additional 45 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of freight traffic. Indian Railways, being an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient mode of transport, will play a crucial role in achieving climate goals, reducing logistics costs, cutting down on oil imports by 10 crore liters, and lowering CO2 emissions by 240 crore kilograms—equivalent to planting 9.7 crore trees.