New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved two railway infrastructure projects worth around Rs 3,907 crore to strengthen rail connectivity in Odisha and Jharkhand.
The approved projects include the doubling of the Paradeep-Haridaspur railway line and the construction of a fourth rail line between Rajkharsawan and Dangoaposi, according to an official statement.
The projects will expand the Indian Railways network by about 145 km and cover four districts in Odisha and Jharkhand. They are aimed at increasing line capacity, easing congestion, and improving operational efficiency and service reliability.
The railway projects have been planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan with a focus on enhancing multimodal connectivity and logistics through integrated planning.
According to the government, the enhanced rail infrastructure will improve connectivity to around 1,526 villages with a combined population of nearly 14 lakh people.
The projects are also expected to improve rail access to major tourist destinations, including the Lalitgiri Buddhist Complex, Shree Baladevjew Temple and Meghahatuburu Hills.
The new rail capacity will strengthen the transportation of key commodities such as coal, iron ore, dolomite, limestone, and gypsum. The projects are expected to facilitate an additional 44 million tonnes per annum of freight traffic.
The government said the capacity expansion will also support India’s environmental goals by encouraging rail transport, which is more energy-efficient than road transport. It is expected to reduce oil imports by about 6 crore litres and cut carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 29 crore kg, equivalent to planting one crore trees.
The government said the projects are in line with Modi’s vision of a New India and are expected to generate employment and self-employment opportunities in the region.
