Patna: The Union Cabinet has approved four railway multi-tracking projects and a four-lane highway project in Bihar, involving a combined investment of ₹13,041 crore. The railway projects will target congestion on the busy Howrah-Chennai route, while the Bihar highway is expected to improve connectivity between Muzaffarpur and Sonbarsa.
Four Railway Projects to Ease Congestion
The four railway multi-tracking projects have a combined cost of around ₹9,450 crore. Together, they will add about 410 km to the existing railway network and are expected to support an additional 76 million tonnes of freight traffic annually.
The approved projects are:
- Kharagpur-Bhadrak (Ranital) 4th Line: 173 km across West Bengal and Odisha
- Bhadrak-Haridaspur 4th Line: 75 km
- 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
Howrah-Chennai Route to Get More Capacity
The Kharagpur-Ranital section is an important corridor connecting eastern and southern India and carries both passenger and freight traffic.
Officials said the section is expected to remain saturated even after the third line becomes operational, making the fourth line necessary.
The Bhadrak-Haridaspur section is already operating at around 91% capacity, with further demand expected from ports and steel plants.
The Gummidipundi-Gudur section is also strategically important as it forms part of the Delhi-Chennai and Howrah-Chennai High Density Networks. Its utilisation is projected to reach 131%.
Cuttack-Paradeep Corridor Under Pressure
The Cuttack-Badabandha project forms part of the highly utilised Jharsuguda-Cuttack-Paradeep network. It connects Paradeep Port with major steel clusters, iron ore mines and coal-producing areas.
The existing section is operating at up to 101% utilisation, which could rise to 177% in the future. Additional railway lines are expected to improve freight movement and reduce pressure on the existing network.
₹3,591 Crore Highway Project for Bihar
(NH-22) in Bihar at a cost of around ₹3,591 crore.
The brownfield highway project is expected to improve connectivity across northern Bihar and make road travel more efficient.
One of the key expected benefits is a reduction in travel time between Muzaffarpur and Sonbarsa from around two hours to one hour.
Infrastructure Push Across Transport Corridors
The projects are aimed at addressing rising demand on important transport routes while improving the movement of passengers, goods and agricultural produce.
While the railway expansion will strengthen freight connectivity between ports and industrial regions, the Bihar highway project is expected to improve regional road connectivity and reduce travel time for commuters.
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