The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved three mega railway projects worth approximately Rs 6,456 crore. These initiatives, spread across four states: Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh.
The approved projects include two new railway lines and one multi-tracking project.
Together, they will expand the Indian Railways network by nearly 300 kilometers, covering seven districts. The projects are aligned with the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which emphasises integrated multi-modal connectivity to facilitate seamless movement of people, goods, and services.
The new lines are expected to provide direct connectivity and improve mobility, enhancing efficiency and service reliability within Indian Railways. The multi-tracking project is designed to ease operations, reduce congestion, and support the infrastructural development of some of the busiest sections of the railway network.
The projects are expected to generate approximately 114 lakh man-days of direct employment during the construction phase, significantly contributing to job creation. The new and enhanced railway lines will provide crucial infrastructure for transporting commodities such as agricultural products, fertilizers, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, and limestone.
The capacity augmentation is projected to result in an additional freight traffic capacity of 45 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). Furthermore, the eco-friendly and energy-efficient nature of rail transport is expected to contribute to India’s climate goals. The projects are anticipated to reduce oil imports by 10 crore liters and lower CO2 emissions by 240 crore kilograms, equivalent to planting 9.7 crore trees.
The projects will benefit approximately 1,300 villages and around 30 lakh people across the regions. The construction of 14 new stations, including in two aspirational districts—Nuapada in Odisha and East Singhbhum in Jharkhand—will enhance connectivity and open up new opportunities for the local population.
