"Cabinet Approves ₹25,000 Crore for Railway Projects Connecting Eastern States"

On Friday, the Cabinet approved eight major railway projects across seven states, amounting to nearly ₹25,000 crore. These projects are part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and will contribute to the proposed energy, mineral, and cement corridor outlined in this year's Budget.

The approved projects span Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana, and West Bengal. They will introduce 800 kilometers of new rail lines and establish 64 new stations.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the new infrastructure is expected to handle an additional 140 million tonnes of cargo annually, with over 767 crore kg of CO2 emissions saved as mineral transport shifts from other modes to rail.

A key development is the new rail corridor along India's eastern coast, initially proposed under the Dedicated Freight Corridor. This corridor will link Warangal, Bhadrachalam, Jeypore, Titagarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Tatanagar, and Asansol, covering seven states.

The projects are scheduled for completion between 2028 and 2030, with some earlier deadlines. They aim to improve connectivity between Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and the East Coast ports.

In Maharashtra, the Ajanta Caves Rail Connectivity project, which connects Jalna to Jalgaon, is valued at over ₹7,500 crore. This project is expected to boost the cement sector and enhance passenger services.

Vaishnaw also highlighted that tribal areas in Odisha will significantly benefit from these new railway developments.

HBL