India's Rail Infrastructure Boost: Green Light for New Rail Doubling Projects

In a significant infrastructure boost, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has endorsed two key projects from the Ministry of Railways with a combined investment of Rs 6,405 crore. The sanctioned rail initiatives focus on advancing the ease of travel, curbing logistic expenses, reducing oil imports, and aiding India's environmental commitments through decreased CO2 emissions.

The endorsed projects encompass the 133-kilometer Koderma-Barkakana Doubling and the 185-kilometer Ballari-Chikjajur Doubling. The Koderma-Barkakana line cuts through Jharkhand's prolific coal region, functioning as the most straightforward rail route between Patna and Ranchi. Moreover, the Ballari-Chikjajur project spans across Karnataka's Ballari and Chitradurga districts and extends to Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district.

According to a statement from the Cabinet Committee, these projects align with Prime Minister Modi's 'New India' vision, aiming to empower regional communities and bolster self-reliance through infrastructural enhancement, thereby opening avenues for employment and entrepreneurship. The expanded rail network, covering seven districts across three states, promises increased connectivity for over 1,400 villages, impacting approximately 28.19 lakh people. The expansion will also support the transit of essential commodities and is projected to boost freight traffic by 49 MTPA. The initiative is billed as environmentally sustainable, potentially curtailing oil imports by 52 crore liters and slicing CO2 emissions by an equivalent of 11 crore planted trees.

(With inputs from agencies.)