New Delhi, 4 April (IANS). The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved four projects with an investment of Rs 18,658 crore for the expansion of the track network of Indian Railways. This information was given by the government on Friday.
Four projects covering 15 districts of three states (Maharashtra, Odisha and Chhattisgarh) will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 1,247 km.
These projects include Sambalpur-Jarapada third and fourth lines, Jharsuguda-Sason third and fourth lines, Kharsia-Naya Raipur-Permalkasa fifth and sixth line and doubling of Gondia-Baleharshah railway line.
The official statement said that increased line capacity will improve mobility, which will increase the efficiency of Indian Railways. These multi-tracking proposals will make operations easier and reduce congestion, which will develop infrastructure on the busiest sections of Indian Railways. These projects are in line with PM Modi’s new India’s approach, which will make the people of the region “self -sufficient”, which will increase employment/opportunities for them.
These projects are part of the PM-Matti Shakti National Master Plan for multi-model connectivity, requiring an integrated plan and these projects will provide uninterrupted connectivity for the movement of people, goods and services.
With these projects, 19 new stations will be constructed, which will increase the connectivity of two aspirational districts (Gadchiroli and Rajnandgaon). The multi-tracking project will increase connectivity of about 3,350 villages and about 47.25 lakh population.
The Kharsia-Nayi Raipur-Paraklasa line will provide direct connectivity to new areas like Baloda Bazar and will create the possibility of setting up new industrial units including cement plants in the region.
The government further said in the statement that these lines are the necessary routes for the transport of agricultural products, fertilizers, coal, iron ore, steel, cement and limestone. With the formation of a new track, there will be an additional freight of 88.77 MTPA (million tonnes per year).
-IANS
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