Cabinet Clears ₹11,169 Crore for Four Multi-Tracking Rail Projects

Fast Summary

• The cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved four multi-tracking projects across six states: Maharashtra, madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand.
• The projects will cover approximately 574 km of Indian Railways and are set to be completed by 2028-29 at an estimated cost of ₹11,169 crore.
• Key routes include:

– Itarsi-Nagpur 4th Line
– Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar)-Parbhani Doubling
– Aluabari Road-New Jalpaiguri 3rd and 4th Line
– dangoaposi-Jaroli 3rd and 4th Line

• These routes aim to provide seamless connectivity for about 43.60 lakh people living in approximately 2,309 villages.
• The improvements are expected to facilitate additional freight traffic capacity (95.91 MTPA) for commodities like coal, cement, clinker, petroleum products etc.,reducing congestion and enhancing logistics efficiency.
• Projects align with the PM-Gati Shakti National master Plan emphasizing holistic integration of transport infrastructure.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Indian Opinion Analysis

The approval of these multi-tracking projects represents a meaningful investment in india’s rail infrastructural growth under the PM-Gati Shakti framework. By targeting essential freight corridors spanning key states in India-and accommodating increased logistics demands-the initiative aims to reduce operational bottlenecks while enhancing regional connectivity. Linking over two thousand villages reinforces the socio-economic importance of this move for marginalized areas.

Key beneficiaries include industries reliant on efficient transportation for heavy goods like coal or cement alongside agricultural sectors needing streamlined access to broader markets. Completing these works within four years reflects government optimism toward expedited outcomes despite potential challenges in coordinating across multiple districts and stakeholders.

While ₹11,169 crore is a substantial allocation requiring careful resource optimization during execution phases; if triumphant-these improvements could raise sector-wide rail efficiencies as well boost localized employment/mobility opportunities.

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