Business: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved three railway projects with a total estimated cost of Rs 6,456 crore, a Railway Ministry statement said.
Logistical efficiency will improve
According to the ministry, the approved projects will improve logistics efficiency by connecting unconnected regions, enhance existing line capacity and expand the transportation network, resulting in streamlined supply chains and accelerated economic growth.
The ministry said the new line proposals will provide direct connectivity and improve mobility, leading to increased efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. The multi-tracking proposal will ease operations and reduce congestion, leading to necessary infrastructure development on the busiest sections of Indian Railways.
Result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan
According to the ministry, these projects are an outcome of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity, made possible through integrated planning and will provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods and services.
14 new stations will be constructed
The three projects covering seven districts of four states i.e. Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh will expand the existing network of Indian Railways by about 300 km. With these projects, 14 new stations will be constructed, which will provide better connectivity to two aspiring districts (Nuapada and East Singhbhum).
Highlighting the benefits of the new line projects, the ministry said these will provide connectivity to about 1,300 villages and about 11 lakh population. The multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to about 1,300 villages and about 19 lakh population.
The ministry also emphasised the benefits to freight traffic, as these are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as agricultural produce, fertilisers, coal, iron ore, steel, cement and limestone etc. The ministry said the capacity enhancement works would result in additional freight traffic of 45 MTPA (million tonnes per annum).
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