Centre Clears Rs 3,907 Crore Rail Expansion Projects for Jharkhand and Odisha

New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday approved two railway multi-tracking projects worth Rs 3,907 crore for Jharkhand and Odisha, a move aimed at strengthening rail infrastructure, improving connectivity and enhancing freight movement in the two states.

The approval was granted by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The projects will add nearly 145 kilometres to the Indian Railways network, covering four districts across Jharkhand and Odisha.

According to the government, the expansion of rail capacity will improve train operations, enhance service reliability and facilitate smoother movement of both passenger and freight traffic.

The projects are expected to benefit around 1,526 villages with a combined population of nearly 14 lakh. They will also improve rail access to key tourist destinations, including the Lalitgiri Buddhist Complex, Shree Baladevjew Temple and the Meghahatuburu Hills.

The approved routes play a vital role in transporting bulk commodities such as coal, iron ore, dolomite, limestone and gypsum. Once completed, the projects are expected to add freight handling capacity of approximately 44 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).

The government said the expansion will also contribute to environmental sustainability by promoting rail transport, which is more energy-efficient than road transport. The projects are expected to save nearly six crore litres of fuel, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 29 crore kilograms and lower the country's logistics costs. The reduction in emissions is equivalent to the environmental benefits of planting nearly one crore trees.

Officials said the multi-tracking projects will help decongest busy rail corridors and improve the overall efficiency of the railway network.

Being implemented under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the projects are designed to strengthen multimodal connectivity through integrated infrastructure planning. The government said they are in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of building a developed and self-reliant India by creating new employment opportunities, supporting economic growth and ensuring seamless movement of people, goods and services.

With inputs from IANS