New Delhi: The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday approved eight railway projects, costing ₹24,657 crore, said railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The new projects aim to provide direct connectivity and improve mobility, offer enhanced efficiency and service reliability for the Indian Railways, said the minister at a post cabinet meeting.
Also Read: Sleeper version of Vande Bharat is underging trial: Railway minister
According to a press communique, the eight projects covering 14 districts of seven states including Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana and West Bengal will increase the existing network of the Indian Railways by 900 kms.
“With these projects 64 New Stations will be constructed, providing enhancing connectivity to Six (6) Aspirational Districts (East Singhbum, Bhadadri Kothagudem, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada), approx. 510 villages and about 40 lakh population,” the release said.
Also Read: Railway Board okays plans to lay extra tracks on DDU-Kiul section
“Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site will be connected to Indian Railway network facilitating large number of tourists,” the release added.
Officials of the Indian Railways said that these are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as agriculture products, fertilizer, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, bauxite, limestone, aluminium powder, granite, ballast, containers etc.
Also Read: East Central Railway sets new record in maize loading for freight
The officials said that the new projects will help the railways in achieving climate goals and minimizing logistics cost of the country, reduce oil import (32.20 crore litres) and lower CO2 emissions (0.87 million tonnes) which is equivalent to plantation of 3.5 crore trees. With Indian government committed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2070, the railway is striving provide environment friendly and energy efficient mode of transportation.
According to the press release, four out of these eight railway lines, Gunupur-Therubali (new line), Junagarh-Nabrangpur, Badampahar-Kandujhargarh and Bangriposi-Gorumahisani are in Odisha while one, ie, Malkangiri-Pandurangapuram (via Bhadrachalam) spreads in three states Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Also Read: Indian railways prioritises coal transport to meet power plants & needs
The railway line between Buramara and Chakulia covers Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha. Two other new lines Jalna-Jalgaon and Bikramshila-Katareah are in Maharashtra and Bihar, respectively.
