Cabinet clears 7 railway projects worth ₹32,500 crore; to add 2,339 km to existing network

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared seven railway projects with an estimated value of Rs 32,500 crore, which can add 2,339 km to the existing network masking states specifically Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Telangana, Odisha and Gujarat.

The projects, which embody upgradation of the existing railway traces together with their quadrupling and doubling, will facilitate capability era for motion of 120 million tonnes of additional cargo and also will assist journey of migrant employees and college students, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw instructed reporters after the Cabinet assembly.

The projects will obtain 100 per cent funding from the Central authorities and join main industrial and industrial hubs of the nation.

They will assist improve the existing line capability, smoothen practice operations, cut back congestion and facilitate ease of travelling and transportation, the minister stated.

The particulars of the projects are as follows: Doubling of existing Gorakhpur Cantonment (Valmiki Nagar single line part) in Uttar Pradesh (Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Kushi Nagar) for 89.264 km, and Bihar (West Champaran) for six.676 km.

Doubling of existing Guntur-Bibinagar single-line part in Andhra Pradesh (Guntur) for 1 km, and Telangana (Nalgonda, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri) for 139 km.

Doubling of existing Chopan-Chunar single-line part in Uttar Pradesh (Mirzapur, Sonbhadra) for 101.58 km.

Doubling between Mudkhed-Medchal and Mahbubnagar-Dhone part in Maharashtra (Nanded) for 49.15 km, Telangana (Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Medak, Wanaparthy, Jogulamba, Medchal-Malkajgiri) for 294.82 km, and Andhra Pradesh (Mahbubnagar, Kurnool and Dhone) for 73.91 km.

Quadrupling between Samakhiali and Gandhidham in Gujarat (Kutch) for 53 km.

Third line between Nergundi-Barang and Khudra Road-Vizianagaram in Odisha (Bhadrak, Jaipur, Khordha, Cuttack, and Ganjam) for 184 km, and Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam) for 201 km.

Son Nagar-Andal multi-tracking mission in Bihar (Gaya, Aurangabad) for 132.57 km, Jharkhand (Dhanbad, Giridih, Hazaribagh, Koderma) for 201.608 km, and West Bengal (Paschim Bardhman) for 40.35 km.

(With inputs from IANS)