Cabinet Clears 8 Rail Multitracking Projects Worth ₹20,804 Crore Across 9 States

The Union Cabinet has approved eight railway multitracking projects with an estimated cost of ₹20,804 crore across nine states, as per a Business Standard news report.  

The projects will add about 1,196 km to the railway network and are scheduled for completion by FY30. 

Southern India Projects 

Five projects covering 17 districts in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana will account for around 540 km of the additional tracks. The projects will cost about ₹10,021 crore. 

These include third and fourth lines between Arakkonam and Renigunta, covering 77 km, and Whitefield and Bangarapet, covering 47 km.  

Track doubling has also been approved for the 147-km Hosur-Omalur and 159-km Salem-Karur-Dindigul sections. The Secunderabad (Ghatkesar)-Kazipet section will get 110 km of multitracking. 

Eastern and Central India 

Three projects costing ₹10,783 crore will add around 656 km across 14 districts in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.  

They comprise the Kharagpur-Jharsuguda (Bagdehi) fourth line, Katni-Pendra Road fourth line and Bilaspur (Uslapur)-Pendra Road third line. 

Connectivity and Freight 

According to the government, the projects will improve rail connectivity to around 6,911 villages with a combined population of nearly 11 million.  

The routes also connect industrial and mining areas and tourist and religious destinations, including Tirupati, Kodaikanal, Bandhavgarh, Jagannath Temple and Amarkantak. 

The projects are expected to generate an additional 74 million tonnes of freight traffic annually. The commodities transported on these routes include coal, cement, iron and steel, petroleum products, fertilisers, automobiles, and foodgrains. 

High-Density Network 

The projects form part of the government's plan to ensure that India's seven high-density rail network routes have at least four lines. They have been planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. 

Railways Capex 

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the ministry had spent half of its ₹2.93 trillion Budget allocation by the first week of September.  

He attributed the spending pace to the practice of front-loading capital expenditure, with spending traditionally increasing towards the end of the financial year. 

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Conclusion 

The approved projects will add nearly 1,196 km of railway lines across nine states, with the government targeting higher rail capacity, lower congestion, and increased freight movement. 

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