Cabinet Approves ₹11,169 Cr for Four Key Railway Projects to Boost Connectivity
In a significant push to modernize India’s railway infrastructure and enhance regional connectivity, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a substantial investment of ₹11,169 crore for four key railway projects. This move reflects the government’s focus on boosting logistics efficiency, improving passenger services, and supporting the country’s economic growth through robust transportation networks. Overview of the Railway Projects
The approved projects will cover important rail routes across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. These projects primarily involve the doubling and tripling of railway lines to decongest high-traffic routes and improve the movement of both freight and passenger trains.
According to official sources, these projects will add 882 km to the Indian Railways network and generate an estimated 2.8 crore person-days of direct and indirect employment during the construction phase.
Project Details
Here are the four major projects approved:
- Rayagada-Titlagarh Railway Line Doubling (Odisha)
- Length: ~100 km
- Objective: Enhance freight movement in mineral-rich regions and improve passenger services.
- Benefit: Helps industries such as steel and aluminum located in the region by ensuring smoother transport of raw materials.
- Pune–Miraj–Londa Railway Line Doubling (Maharashtra-Karnataka)
- Length: Over 467 km
- Importance: A key link for Southern and Western India, easing pressure on Pune and Goa-bound routes.
- Impact: Supports tourism and trade along the Western Ghats, while reducing travel time for daily commuters.
- Kacheguda–Guntur–Guntakal Railway Line Tripling (Telangana-Andhra Pradesh)
- Length: Around 430 km
- Purpose: Critical to improving capacity in a corridor witnessing rapid passenger growth.
- Industrial Link: Supports agriculture, textiles, and manufacturing hubs in the region.
- Jhansi–Bina Railway Line Doubling (Uttar Pradesh-Madhya Pradesh)
- Length: Approx. 152 km
- Strategic Role: Enhances connectivity in the Bundelkhand region and facilitates military logistics as well.
- Benefit: Reduces delays for passenger trains by easing congestion in a high-traffic corridor.
Objectives and Expected Benefits
These projects are aligned with the Indian Railways’ larger goal of improving line capacity to accommodate higher traffic without the need to build entirely new tracks. The doubling and tripling of lines are cost-effective ways to:
- Reduce delays caused by single-line operations.
- Increase the average speed of freight and passenger trains.
- Decrease fuel consumption and emissions due to smoother operations.
- Enhance safety with better signaling and track upgrades.
Additionally, the railways anticipate a significant boost to economic activity in the regions by providing better transport facilities to industries, small businesses, and agricultural producers.
Part of the PM Gati Shakti Vision
These projects fall under the broader PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, a flagship initiative to create a multi-modal transport infrastructure in India. This plan aims to integrate roads, railways, ports, and airports into a unified logistics ecosystem. By eliminating bottlenecks and reducing logistics costs, it supports India’s ambitions of becoming a $5 trillion economy.
Funding and Implementation
The ₹11,169 crore funding will come from a mix of budgetary support and extra-budgetary resources. The projects will be executed by zonal divisions of Indian Railways and are expected to be completed over the next 3 to 5 years.
Monitoring committees will oversee timely implementation, and new technologies such as track laying machines, drones for progress tracking, and AI-based safety tools will be used.
Conclusion
The Cabinet’s approval of ₹11,169 crore for these four strategic railway projects is a decisive step toward a faster, safer, and more connected India. As the country rapidly expands its rail network, these infrastructure upgrades not only improve transportation but also fuel regional development, job creation, and national economic growth