₹7,000 Crore Rail-Road Push Approved by CCEA.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday gave its crucial nod to a comprehensive package of rail and road projects totaling over ₹7,000 crore, set to significantly enhance connectivity and infrastructure in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.

The approved projects include substantial investments in multi-tracking rail lines across Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, alongside the development of a key four-lane highway corridor in Andhra Pradesh.

A significant portion of the allocation, ₹3,399 crore, is earmarked for multi-tracking rail projects, with an ambitious completion target of 2029-30. These vital rail upgrades include the quadrupling of lines (construction of third and fourth rail lines) in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam-Nagda corridor, a move expected to drastically improve rail traffic flow and capacity in the region. Simultaneously, Maharashtra will see the construction of a fourth line along the Wardha-Balharshah corridor, further bolstering its crucial rail network.

In a boost for road infrastructure, the CCEA also cleared the development of a four-lane highway corridor stretching from Badvel to Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. This critical road project comes with an estimated cost of ₹3,653 crore and is anticipated to streamline transportation and foster economic activity in the state.

The approvals underscore the government's continued focus on bolstering India's infrastructure backbone, aiming to facilitate smoother freight movement, improve passenger travel, and stimulate regional economic growth.