New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved three railway multitracking projects worth ₹10,783 crore across West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
The projects will add around 656 km to the existing railway network and are expected to improve line capacity, ease congestion and strengthen the movement of passengers and freight across key routes.
Three rail projects approved
The approved works comprise:
- Kharagpur–Jharsuguda (Bagdehi) 4th Line
- Katni–Pendra Road 4th Line
- Bilaspur (Uslapur)–Pendra Road 3rd Line
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Together, the projects will cover 14 districts across the five states.
The additional rail capacity is expected to improve operational efficiency and reliability while enabling smoother movement of trains on routes carrying substantial freight traffic.
Connectivity to 4,790 villages
According to the government, the projects will improve rail connectivity to approximately 4,790 villages, collectively serving a population of around 56 lakh people.
The routes will also strengthen access to several important religious, archaeological, tourism and natural destinations, including:
- Taratarini Temple
- Shri Khetra Jagannath Temple
- Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
- Amarkantak Temple
- Achanakmar Tiger Reserve
- Khutaghat Dam
- Malhar Archaeological Site
- Ratanpur Mahamaya Temple
Freight capacity to rise by 27 million tonnes annually
The three corridors are important for transporting key commodities such as coal, cement, iron and steel.
The capacity augmentation is expected to support an additional 27 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of freight traffic, helping improve the movement of industrial commodities and potentially reducing pressure on existing routes.
The projects have been planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which focuses on coordinated infrastructure planning and improved multimodal connectivity.
Expected savings in fuel and emissions
The government expects the expanded rail capacity to encourage greater movement of goods by rail, which is considered a more energy-efficient mode of transportation.
The projects are estimated to help reduce oil consumption by around 12 crore litres and lower carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 62 crore kg. The emissions reduction is equivalent to the environmental benefit associated with planting about 2.48 crore trees.
The projects are also expected to contribute to lower logistics costs while supporting economic activity and employment opportunities in the regions covered.
