Cabinet approves three railway track projects worth Rs 6,456 crores

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved two new lines and one multi-tracking project worth Rs 6,456 crores across the Indian Railways. The three projects cover seven districts in Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh. They will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 300 Kms.

These are essential routes for transport of agriculture products, fertilizer, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, and limestone among others. The capacity augmentation works will result in 45 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) of additional freight traffic.

An official statement said these projects will improve logistical efficiency by increasing the existing line capacity.


“This will result in streamlined supply chains and accelerated economic growth,” the statement said while adding that these new line proposals will provide direct connectivity and improve mobility.

Under these projects, 14 New Stations will be constructed, providing enhancing connectivity to Aspirational Districts of Nuapada and East Singhbum. New Line projects will also provide connectivity to approximately 1,300 villages and about 11 Lakh people. The multi-tracking project will improve connectivity to a similar number of villages and but to about 19 lakh people.

It is expected that the new projects will result in both achieving climate goals and minimizing logistics cost. Oil import will be reduced by 10 Crore Litres and CO2 emissions lowered by 240 Crore kilogramme (kg) which is equivalent to plantation of 9.7 Crore trees, the statement added.