Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs Approves Rail Infrastructure Projects Worth Rs. 12,343 Crore

New Delhi: In a significant move aimed at boosting the country’s rail infrastructure, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has granted approval for six projects of the Ministry of Railways. The total estimated cost of these projects is approximately Rs. 12,343 crore, and they will receive 100% funding from the Central Government.

These projects, aligned with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision for a New India, focus on providing comprehensive development to the region, making its residents “Atmanirbhar” by generating employment and self-employment opportunities. The projects, spread across 18 districts in six states—Rajasthan, Assam, Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Nagaland—aim to augment the existing Indian Railways network by 1020 km.

The implementation of these projects is expected to generate around 3 crores man-days of employment in the states involved. The initiatives stem from the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity, emphasizing integrated planning for seamless movement of people, goods, and services. The selected routes are vital for the transportation of various commodities such as food grains, fertilizers, coal, cement, steel, and more.

Furthermore, the capacity augmentation works associated with these projects are anticipated to result in an additional freight traffic of 87 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA). The railway, known for being an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient mode of transportation, will contribute to achieving climate goals, minimizing logistics costs, reducing oil imports, and lowering CO2 emissions.

The approval of these rail infrastructure projects underscores the government’s commitment to bolstering essential transport corridors, enhancing connectivity, and fostering economic growth across regions.