Cabinet approves Rs 1.60 lakh crore rail, bridge and other projects in last meet at South Block

New Delhi: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Union Cabinet approved projects worth ₹1,60,504 crore at its final meeting in the historic South Block before passing a resolution to shift its functioning to the newly dedicated Seva Teerth complex.

After nearly 95 years since its inauguration in 1931, the government will move out of South Block. Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated Seva Teerth to the nation on February 13.

Also read: Cabinet clears Rs 18,509 crore Rail projects, expansion of Noida Metro

₹1.60 lakh crore approvals across sectors

At its concluding session in South Block, the Cabinet cleared major decisions spanning railways, national highways, metro expansion, urban reforms and startup funding.

Key approvals included:

1. Kasara–Manmad 3rd and 4th railway line – ₹10,154 crore

2. Delhi–Ambala 3rd and 4th railway line – ₹5,983 crore

3. Ballari–Hosapete 3rd and 4th railway line – ₹2,372 crore

4. Twin-tube underwater road-cum-rail tunnel between Gohpur (NH-15) and Numaligarh (NH-715), Assam – ₹18,662 crore

5. Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) – ₹1,00,000 crore (Central Assistance)

6. Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FoF 2.0) – ₹10,000 crore corpus

7. Widening of NH-167 (Gudebellur–Mahabubnagar, Telangana) – ₹3,175.08 crore

8. Upgradation of NH-56 (Dhamasiya–Bitada/Movi & Nasarpore–Malotha, Gujarat) – ₹4,583.64 crore

9. Upgradation of NH-160A (Ghoti–Trimbak–Jawhar–Manor–Palghar, Maharashtra) – ₹3,320.38 crore

10. Noida Metro Aqua Line extension (Sector 142–Botanical Garden) – ₹2,254 crore

Rail multitracking projects: ₹18,509 crore

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved three railway multitracking projects at an estimated cost of ₹18,509 crore, to be completed by 2030–31.

The projects — Kasara–Manmad, Delhi–Ambala and Ballari–Hosapete third and fourth lines — will:

1. Cover 12 districts across Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra and Karnataka

2. Increase the existing rail network by about 389 km

3. Generate 265 lakh human-days of direct employment

4. Enable additional freight traffic of 96 MTPA (million tonnes per annum)

The capacity augmentation is projected to reduce oil imports by 22 crore litres and lower CO₂ emissions by 111 crore kg, equivalent to plantation of about four crore trees. The projects will improve connectivity to around 3,902 villages with a population of nearly 97 lakh and enhance rail access to key tourist destinations including Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra/Srinagar and Hampi.

Brahmaputra twin-tube tunnel: ₹18,662 crore

The CCEA approved construction of a 33.7 km 4-lane access-controlled greenfield corridor from Gohpur to Numaligarh, including 15.79 km twin-tube TBM underwater road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra. The project will be implemented on EPC mode at a total capital cost of ₹18,662 crore.

The alignment integrates with NH-15 and NH-715 and connects Rangia–Mukongselek and Furkating–Mariani railway sections. The project will link key economic, social and logistics nodes across Assam and benefit North-Eastern states. It is expected to generate about 80 lakh person-days of direct and indirect employment.

National highway upgrades

NH-167 (Telangana) – ₹3,175.08 crore: Widening of the Gudebellur–Mahabubnagar (80.01 km) section on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM). The project will integrate with NH-150 and NH-167N and generate 14.4 lakh person-days (direct) and 17.9 lakh person-days (indirect) employment.

NH-56 (Gujarat) – ₹4,583.64 crore: Four-laning of Dhamasiya–Bitada/Movi (47.46 km) and Nasarpore–Malotha (60.21 km) sections (total 107.67 km). The project is expected to generate 19.38 lakh direct and 22.82 lakh indirect man-days and reduce travel time by about 40%.

NH-160A (Maharashtra) – ₹3,320.38 crore: Upgradation of the Ghoti–Trimbak–Jawhar–Manor–Palghar (154.635 km) section on EPC mode. The project will connect key industrial clusters and the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway and generate approximately 19.98 lakh direct and 24.86 lakh indirect person-days of employment.

Urban Challenge Fund: ₹1 lakh crore central assistance

The Cabinet approved the launch of the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) with ₹1 lakh crore Central Assistance, operational from FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31.

Central assistance will cover 25% of project cost, with at least 50% mobilised from market sources. The fund is expected to catalyse projects worth over ₹4 lakh crore over five years.

A dedicated ₹5,000 crore Credit Repayment Guarantee Scheme has been approved to support smaller cities and ULBs, including those in North-Eastern and hilly states, facilitating first-time access to market finance.

Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0: ₹10,000 crore corpus

The Cabinet approved Startup India FoF 2.0 with a corpus of ₹10,000 crore to mobilise venture capital for startups.

The scheme will focus on:

1. Deep tech and innovative manufacturing

2. Early-growth stage startups

3. Expanding funding beyond major metros

4. Strengthening domestic venture capital funds

The new fund builds on the earlier Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS 1.0), under which ₹10,000 crore was committed to 145 AIFs that invested over ₹25,500 crore in more than 1,370 startups.

Noida Metro Aqua Line extension: ₹2,254 crore

The Cabinet approved the 11.56 km extension of the Noida Metro Aqua Line from Sector 142 to Botanical Garden, with eight elevated stations. Upon completion, Noida and Greater Noida will have 61.62 km of active metro network.

The corridor will connect commercial hubs, IT parks, educational institutions and healthcare facilities, and provide interchange connectivity with the Blue and Magenta Lines at Botanical Garden.