New Delhi, Sept. 9 -- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved eight railway projects costing more than Rs 20,000 crore, covering over 20 districts in nine states and adding around 1,200 km to the Indian Railways network. The projects include new lines and multi-tracking works aimed at easing congestion, increasing capacity and improving the movement of passengers and freight.

Among the approved works is a fourth line on the Kharagpur-Jharsuguda and Katni-Pendra Road sections, along with a third line between Bilaspur (Uslapur) and Pendra Road. Third and fourth lines will also be laid between Arakkonam-Renigunta and Whitefield-Bangarapet, while the Secunderabad (Ghatkesar)-Kazipet section will undergo multi-tracking.

The remaining projects involve doubling of the existing single lines between Hosur-Omalur and Salem-Karur-Dindigul.

The projects will span West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana. According to the government, the expanded network will improve rail access to more than 6,900 villages with a combined population of over one crore.

The works are planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, with integrated planning intended to improve multi-modal connectivity and logistics. The government said the additional capacity would support the movement of people, goods and services while improving operational efficiency and service reliability.

The routes are also important for transporting coal, cement, iron and steel and other commodities. The capacity expansion is expected to generate an additional 74 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of freight traffic.

The projects will improve connectivity to tourist and religious sites including Taratarini Temple, Shri Khetra Jagannath Temple near Jharsuguda, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Virateshwar Temple, Amarkantak Temple, Jwaleshwar Dham, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, Khutaghat Dam, Malhar Archaeological Site and Ratanpur Mahamaya Temple.

The government said greater rail use would help reduce logistics costs, oil imports and carbon dioxide emissions. The estimated emissions reduction is equivalent to planting 4.48 crore trees.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.