The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today approved seven projects of the Ministry of Railways with an estimated cost of around Rs 32,500 crore, with 100 per cent funding from the Central Government.

The proposals of multi-tracking will ease operations and reduce congestion, providing the much required infrastructural development on the busiest sections across Indian Railways.

The projects covering 35 districts in nine states, that is, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by 2339 km and will provide employment of 7.06 crore man-days to the people of the states.

The projects include Gorakhpur-Cantt-Valmiki Nagar (Doubling of existing line), Son Nagar-Andal Multi tracking Project (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 existing line) and Samakhiali-Gandhidham (Quadrupling).

These are essential routes for transportation of varied basket of commodities such as foodgrains, fertilizers, coal, cement, fly-ash, iron and finished steel, clinkers, crude oil, lime stone, edible oil, etc.

The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 200 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum). The Railways being an environment friendly and energy efficient mode of transportation, will help both in achieving climate goals and for reducing logistics cost of the country.

The projects are in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of a New India which will make people of the region “Atmanirbhar” by creating Multi-tasking work force in the region and will enhance their employment/self employment opportunities.

The projects are a result of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for Multi-model connectivity which have been possible through integrated planning and will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods and services.