The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved four railway projects worth ₹18,658 crore to expand the Indian Railways network by 1,247 km, benefiting 15 districts across Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. The projects include the third and fourth lines between.
Sambalpur–Jarapda and Jharsuguda–Sason, the fifth and sixth lines from Kharsia for people, goods, and services. to Naya Raipur and Parmalkasa, and the doubling of the Gondia–Balharshah section. These expansions will enhance capacity, improve connectivity, and support freight movement in key industrial and mining regions.
The projects are in line with Modiji’s Vision of a New India, which aims to make people of the region “Atmanirbhar” by providing comprehensive development and employment opportunities. The projects are part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity, which will provide seamless connectivity.
The projects will also create 19 new stations, enhance connectivity to two aspirational districts, and provide direct connectivity to new areas such as Baloda Bazar, creating possibilities for setting up new industrial units.
The construction of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is progressing steadily, with the main expressway remaining unaffected by a land dispute in Mandola, Bagpat district. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has confirmed that the primary carriageway is on schedule, and the project is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun upon completion.
Mandola Land Dispute: An Overview
The dispute involves a 1,600-square-meter plot in Mandola, owned by the late Veersen Saroha. In 1998, the Uttar Pradesh Housing Board initiated the Mandola Housing Scheme, aiming to acquire 2,614 acres villages. While most landowners accepted compensation, Saroha contested the acquisition, leading to a stay order from the Allahabad High Court.
Although the housing project was eventually shelved, the NHAI acquired the land from the housing board in 2020 for the expressway. Saroha’s family, asserting that the transfer was unauthorized, continued legal proceedings. The Supreme Court has referred the case to the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, with a hearing scheduled for April 16, 2025.
Impact on the Expressway Project
Despite the legal challenges, the NHAI has clarified that the main expressway’s construction is progressing without hindrance. The disputed area affects only a 90-meter stretch of a service road near Ramp-5, not the primary expressway. The NHAI stated, “There is no hindrance on the main Expressway, and it is unaffected.
In summary, while the land dispute in Mandola involves a specific segment of the service road, it does not impede the overall progress of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. The NHAI remains committed to completing the main expressway as planned, aiming to enhance connectivity and reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved four significant railway projects totaling ₹18,658 crore. These initiatives aim to enhance the Indian Railways network by approximately 1,247 kilometers across 15 districts in Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
Project Details and Objectives
- Sambalpur–Jarapda (Odisha): Construction of the 3rd and 4th lines to enhance capacity on this vital corridor The approved projects encompass the construction of additional railway lines to augment capacity and improve connectivity along key routes Addition of the 3rd and 4th lines to facilitate smoother traffic flow and reduce congestion.
- Gondia–Balharshah (Maharashtra):
These capacity enhancement initiatives are expected to generate an additional 88.77 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of freight traffic, thereby boosting the The projects are slated for completion by 2030-31 towards modernizing India’s railway infrastructure and bolstering economic growth through improved transportation networks.
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