New Delhi [India], April 4 (HBTV): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved four major railway multitracking projects across Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, at a total cost of INR 18,658 crore.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated at a press conference on Friday that the four projects, covering 15 districts across the three states, will expand the Indian Railways network by approximately 1,247 kilometres.
The approved projects include the Sambalpur–Jarapda 3rd and 4th Lines, Jharsuguda–Sason 3rd and 4th Lines, Kharsia–Naya Raipur–Parmalkasa 5th and 6th Lines, and the Gondia–Balharshah doubling.
The expansion will enhance line capacity, improve mobility, and ensure greater efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. These multi-tracking initiatives are expected to ease operations, reduce congestion, and provide critical infrastructure upgrades along some of the busiest sections of the rail network.
As part of the project, 19 new stations will be constructed, enhancing connectivity in two Aspirational Districts—Gadchiroli in Maharashtra and Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh. The multitracking work will connect approximately 3,350 villages and benefit around 47.25 lakh people.
The Kharsia–Naya Raipur–Parmalkasa route will provide direct railway connectivity to new areas such as Baloda Bazar, creating potential for new industrial development, including cement plants, in the region.
These upgraded routes are vital for transporting key commodities such as agricultural produce, fertilizers, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, and limestone. The capacity augmentation is projected to result in additional freight traffic of 88.77 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).
The projects will also contribute to national environmental goals by reducing oil imports by 95 crore litres and lowering CO₂ emissions by 477 crore kilograms, equivalent to the planting of 19 crore trees. As an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transportation, the railways will support both climate targets and lower national logistics costs.
(ANI)