NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved four big projects on Tuesday that will cost ₹12,328 crore. This is a big step in making India’s rail network stronger. These initiatives are meant to make it easier for passengers and freight to move around, as well as help the country reach its goals of “Atmanirbhar Bharat,” which means “sustainable growth and self-reliance.”
The new line that connects Deshalpar, Hajipir, Luna, and Vayor-Lakhpat in Gujarat’s Kutch region is one of the most important projects. This project would add 145 kilometers of rail routes to the state’s network and is expected to cost ₹2,526 crore. The new line should be finished in three years and will connect Kutch’s remote territories, which are known for its salt, cement, and other mineral reserves. This strategic link will make it much easier to move important goods including salt, cement, coal, clinker, and bentonite.
The government stressed how important the project is for strategy and culture, saying it will connect the Rann of Kutch and create new opportunities for tourists. You may now get to historical and religious places including the Harappan site of Dholavira, the Koteshwar temple, Narayan Sarovar, and the Lakhpat fort by train. The initiative would build 13 additional stations, which will directly help 866 villages and almost 16 lakh people.
The Cabinet has approved three multi-tracking projects in other parts of the country, in addition to the one in Gujarat:
A third and fourth line for the 173-kilometer Secunderabad (Sanathnagar)-Wadi route, which goes through Karnataka and Telangana, will cost ₹5,012 crore.
A third line for the 53-kilometer Bhagalpur-Jamalpur route in Bihar, at a budget of ₹1,156 crore.
The 194-kilometer Furkating-New Tinsukia line in Assam will be doubled at a cost of ₹3,634 crore.
It is projected that these initiatives, which will take three to five years to finish, will improve connectivity for more than 3,100 villages and help more than 47.34 lakh people. Kalaburagi, an aspirational district in Karnataka, will be a major benefit.
The government says that the initiatives will make it easier and faster for people and products to move around. They are expected to be able to handle an extra 68 million tonnes of freight per year by making operations more efficient and service more reliable. This will make it easier to move important materials like coal, cement, steel, and agricultural goods, which will enhance supply chains and help the economy thrive.
The administration also talked about how the projects will help the environment. The projects are expected to cut oil imports by about 56 crore liters and carbon dioxide emissions by 360 crore kg by moving more goods movement to the energy-efficient railway system. This is the same as planting 14 crore trees for the environment.
The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan calls for these four projects, which will add about 565 kilometers to the Indian Railways network. They will encompass 13 districts in Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, and Assam. The government said that these projects fit with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of an India that can take care of itself. They will help the people in the impacted areas grow and find new jobs and ways to start their own businesses.