The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved three projects of Ministry of Railways with total estimated cost of approximately ₹6,456 crore.
The three projects covering seven Districts in four States - Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 300 kilometres.
With these projects, 14 new stations will be constructed, providing enhancing connectivity to two aspirational districts (Nuapada and East Singhbum). New Line projects will provide connectivity to approximately 1,300 villages and about 11 lakh population. Multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to approximately 1,300 villages catering to a population of 19 lakh.
The Jamshedpur - Purulia - Asansol (Chandil - Anara - Damodar) third line is 121 km long for which ₹2,170 crore has been approved. For 37 km long Sardega - Bhalumuda new double line, ₹1,360 crore has been approved. For the 138 km long Bargarh Road - Nawapara Road New Line, ₹2,926 crore has been approved.
The projects are result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity which have been possible through integrated planning and will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods and services.
These are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as agriculture products, fertiliser, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, limestone etc. The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 45 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum).
