Cabinet Greenlights 8 Rail Projects Across 7 States with ₹24,657 Crore Investment

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved eight new rail projects across seven states on Friday, with a total estimated investment of ₹24,657 crore. The states benefiting from these projects include Odisha, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and West Bengal.

Railway and Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that these projects aim to enhance connectivity, improve logistical efficiency, and reduce transportation costs while minimizing oil imports and lowering the carbon footprint. Notably, one of the projects will establish rail connectivity to the Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is expected to boost tourism in the region.

The projects, slated for completion by 2030-31, will add approximately 900 km to the existing Indian Railways network and introduce 64 new stations. They will significantly improve connectivity in 14 districts and six aspirational districts, including East Singhbum, Bhadadri, Kothagudem, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, and Rayagada. This expansion will serve around 510 villages and impact a population of approximately 40 lakh.

The new routes will facilitate the transportation of various commodities, including agricultural products, fertilizers, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, and bauxite. The completion of these projects is expected to increase rail freight traffic by over 140 million tonnes annually.

Additionally, a new rail corridor, paralleling the eastern coast of India, will connect key locations such as Warangal, Bhadrachalam, Jeypore, Titagarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Tatanagar, and Asansol. This corridor will serve seven states in the eastern region and was initially proposed under the Dedicated Freight Corridor project.

ET