The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved four major railway multi-tracking projects worth around Rs 9,450 crore. The projects will cover about 410 km across West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
The new railway lines are expected to improve freight movement, ease congestion and strengthen connectivity for passengers and businesses across several key regions.
Railway projects to cut fuel use and emissions
The government said the projects could help reduce the country's logistics costs by improving the efficiency of freight transportation.
As railways are considered a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transport, the projects are also expected to contribute to India's climate goals.
The proposed capacity enhancement could help reduce oil imports by around 13 crore litres and lower carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 65 crore kg, according to the government.
The reduction in emissions has been compared with the environmental benefit of planting around 2.60 crore trees.
Which railway projects have been approved?
The four approved multi-tracking projects include:
- Kharagpur–Bhadrak (Ranital) 4th Line: 173 km across West Bengal and Odisha
- Bhadrak–Haridaspur 4th Line: 75 km in Odisha
- Gummidipundi–Gudur 3rd and 4th Lines: 90 km across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu
- Cuttack–Paradeep (Badabandha) 3rd and 4th Lines: 72 km in Odisha
Together, the projects will add around 410 km to the existing Indian Railways network.
76 MTPA additional freight capacity expected
The proposed railway routes are important for transporting commodities including coal, iron ore, cement, iron and steel, containers, automobiles and food grains.
According to the government, the capacity augmentation works are expected to facilitate additional freight traffic of around 76 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).
The additional capacity is also expected to streamline railway operations and reduce congestion on busy routes, helping improve the movement of both freight and passengers.
Rail connectivity to reach 6,448 villages
The four projects will cover eight districts across West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
The government said the expanded network will improve connectivity to approximately 6,448 villages, with a combined population of around 60 lakh people.
Improved rail connectivity is also expected to support economic activity in these regions by creating better opportunities for employment and self-employment.
Projects planned under PM Gati Shakti
The railway projects have been planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which focuses on improving multi-modal connectivity and logistics efficiency through integrated infrastructure planning.
The projects are expected to provide more seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods and services while improving coordination between different transport networks.
The additional lines are also expected to increase the operational efficiency and service reliability of Indian Railways.
New railway lines to improve access to tourist destinations
The projects will also strengthen rail connectivity to several prominent tourist, religious and heritage destinations across the four states.
These include Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhitarkanika National Park, Maa Bhadrakali Temple, Maa Dhamarai Temple, Panchalingeswar Temple, Talsari-Udaypur and Chandipur Beach.
Other destinations expected to benefit from improved connectivity include Pulicat Lake, Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Lord Veeraraghava Perumal Temple, Gada Kujanga Jagannath Temple, Sarala Temple, Dhabaleswar Temple and Lalitgiri, a significant Buddhist archaeological site.
