NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given the green light to seven significant projects from the Ministry of Railways. These projects, with an estimated cost of Rs. 32,500 Crore, will receive complete funding from the Central Government. The goal is to improve rail operations and lessen congestion, especially on the busiest sections of Indian Railways.
The projects will span across 35 districts in nine states: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Telangana, Odisha, and West Bengal. Together, they will extend the current Indian Railways network by 2,339 kilometers. This expansion is expected to generate employment opportunities, providing around 7.06 crore man-days of work for people in these states.
Here’s a rundown of the projects:
| Name of the Project | Nature of the Project |
| Gorakhpur Cantt- Valmiki Nagar | Doubling of the Existing Line |
| Son Nagar-Andal Multi Tracking Projet | Multi tracking |
| Nergundi-Barang and Khurda Road – Vizianagaram | 3rd Line |
| Mudkhed-Medchal and Mahbubnagar-Dhone | Doubling of the existing line |
| Guntur-Bibinagar | Doubling of the existing line |
| Chopan-Chunar | Doubling of the existing line |
| Samakhiali-Ghandhidham | Quadrupling |
These projects are vital for transporting various goods like foodgrains, coal, cement, crude oil, and more. By improving the railway network, these projects will accommodate an additional 200 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum) of freight traffic. Railways are eco-friendly and efficient for transporting goods, aligning with climate goals and reducing the country’s logistics costs.
These projects resonate with the Prime Minister’s vision of a ‘New India,’ aiming to make the region self-reliant by creating more job opportunities. This development is part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for Multi-model connectivity, promoting integrated planning for smoother movement of people, goods, and services.
