Cabinet Clears ₹3,169 Crore Boost for Bhagalpur-Dumka-Rampurhat Railway Expansion

Quick Summary

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the doubling of Bhagalpur-Dumka-Rampurhat railway line spanning 177 km across Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
• The project will cost ₹3,169 crore and aims too enhance line capacity for improved mobility and service reliability.
• It is part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan focusing on multi-modal connectivity and logistical efficiency via integrated planning.
• Connectivity improvements will benefit five districts in three states: Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
• Key destinations like Deoghar (Baba Baidyanath Dham) and Tarapith (Shakti Peeth) are included for boosted tourism potential.
• Approximately 441 villages with a combined population of 28.72 lakh along the route will see enhanced connectivity benefits in addition to three “Aspirational Districts” – Banka, Godda, Dumka.
• Capacity enhancements are expected to facilitate additional freight traffic volume at around 15 million tonnes per annum.

indian Opinion Analysis

The approval of this railway infrastructure upgrade reflects India’s focus on improving regional connectivity under the PM-Gati Shakti framework. Doubling rail routes reduces congestion while addressing long-standing logistical bottlenecks in economically critically important regions. By targeting rural areas and connecting “Aspirational Districts,” this initiative aligns with broader developmental goals like inclusive growth.

Rail links to religious sites such as Deoghar and tarapith hold high promise for increasing tourism-based revenue streams alongside improved commodity transportation efficiency across sectors like coal or cement.However,prosperous execution will depend heavily on timely stakeholder collaboration during construction phases.

Such projects not only emphasize local growth but also aid national freight capacity expansion-a crucial factor in maintaining economic momentum amidst growing demands for swift logistics solutions.

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