NEW DELHI, September 9: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved eight railway multitracking projects with a combined investment of ₹20,804 crore across nine states, adding around 1,196 km to the Indian Railways network.
The approvals were announced in two packages covering 31 districts. Five projects across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana will cost ₹10,021 crore and add around 540 km to the rail network, while three projects across West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh will cost ₹10,783 crore and add about 656 km.
The five projects in southern India comprise the 77-km Arakkonam-Renigunta third and fourth line, 47-km Whitefield-Bangarapet third and fourth line, 147-km Hosur-Omalur doubling, 159-km Salem-Karur-Dindigul doubling and 110-km Secunderabad (Ghatkesar)-Kazipet multitracking project.
These projects cover 17 districts across the four states and are expected to improve railway connectivity to around 2,121 villages with a population of about 52 lakh.
The other three projects comprise the Kharagpur-Jharsuguda (Bagdehi) fourth line, Katni-Pendra Road fourth line and Bilaspur (Uslapur)-Pendra Road third line.
Covering 14 districts across five states, the three projects will add around 656 km to the railway network and are expected to improve connectivity to about 4,790 villages with a population of around 56 lakh.
Taken together, the eight projects are expected to improve connectivity to around 6,911 villages with a population of about 1.08 crore.
The projects have been planned under the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan and are aimed at increasing line capacity on congested railway corridors and improving passenger and freight movement.
The five southern projects are expected to support movement of commodities including coal, cement, iron and steel, containers, automobiles, foodgrains, petroleum products and fertilisers. The additional railway capacity is expected to accommodate around 47 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of incremental freight traffic.
The three projects across eastern and central India are expected to support additional freight traffic of around 27 MTPA, particularly for commodities such as coal, cement, iron and steel.
Taken together, the eight projects are expected to create capacity for around 74 MTPA of additional freight traffic.
The projects will also increase railway capacity on routes serving industrial, mining and logistics centres as well as several tourism and pilgrimage destinations.
The southern package will improve connectivity towards destinations including Tirupati, Tiruttani, Kolar Gold Fields, Hogenakkal Falls, Mettur Dam, Kodaikanal Hills, Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary, Yadagirigutta Temple and Bhongir Fort.
The other three projects cover corridors serving destinations including Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Amarkantak, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, Ratanpur Mahamaya Temple and the Malhar archaeological site.
According to the government, the three eastern and central projects are expected to reduce oil consumption by around 12 crore litres and carbon dioxide emissions by about 62 crore kg, while the five southern projects are estimated to reduce oil consumption by around 8 crore litres and emissions by about 42 crore kg.
Based on the two Cabinet approvals, the eight projects together are therefore expected to reduce oil consumption by around 20 crore litres and carbon dioxide emissions by about 104 crore kg.
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