Indian Railways: Seven multi-tracking projects for the Ministry of Railways, with an estimated cost of over Rs 32,500 crore, were authorised by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, which was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Indian Railways’ current network will be expanded by 2,339 km as a result of the projects, according to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who was addressing the media after the Cabinet’s decision. The government also disclosed that 7.06 crore people will be employed by projects.
PM-Gati Shakti Plan Drives 7 Rail Projects Spanning 9 States
According to a brief government statement posted on X, the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for Multi-model Connectivity led to the development of these projects, which are entirely sponsored by the federal government. The initiative includes nine states—Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal—and more than 35 districts. Vaishnaw stressed that a full Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) approach would be used for the projects. The objective is to increase yearly freight flow by about 200 million tonnes while streamlining operations and reducing congestion. “The projects will provide employment of 7.06 crore person-days to the people of the selected states,” the government statement said.
Rail Minister Unveils Strategic Rail Projects to Bridge Gaps in Key Routes
Speaking specifically about the projects, Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Gorakhpur-Cantt-Valmikinagar doubling project will serve as a substitute for the New Delhi-Howrah line, improving connection with the northeastern states. This is one of eight concurrent projects that will improve connectivity in Nepal and cover a crucial gap on the NDLS-Howrah route. The project to double the Guntur-Bibinagar Singh route was implemented in response to rising demand between Chennai and Hyderabad. With a 3,238 crore investment, it enhances facilities in the Vijayawada area and cuts the distance between Chennai and Hyderabad by 76 km over a 239 mile segment. A second project to double the length of the more than 280 km Chopan-Chunar section intends to ease Singrauli’s traffic and improve rail productivity. According to the minister, the Secunderabad-Bengaluru rail link will increase north-south train operations and cut the distance between Hyderabad and Bengaluru by 50 km, promoting enhanced connectivity.
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