PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, August 10: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday approved eight projects of the Ministry of Railways with a total estimated cost of Rs 24,657 crore.
The new line proposals will provide direct connectivity and improve mobility, providing enhanced efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways.
PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan
The projects are in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of a New India which will make people of the region “Atmanirbhar” by way of comprehensive development in the area which will enhance their employment/ self-employment opportunities.
The projects are a result of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity which has been possible through integrated planning and will provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods and services.
Also Read- Bangladeshi infiltrators, not tribals, running govt in Jharkhand, says Assam CM
The 8 projects covering 14 districts in seven states i.e., Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana and West Bengal will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by 900 Km.
64 new stations to be constructed
With these projects 64 new stations will be constructed, providing enhancing connectivity to six Aspirational Districts (East Singhbum, Bhadadri, Kothagudem, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada), approx. 510 villages and about 40 lakh population.
Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site will be connected to Indian Railway Network facilitating a large number of tourists.
These are essential routes for the transportation of commodities such as agricultural products, fertilizer, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, bauxite, limestone, aluminium powder, granite, ballast, containers etc.
Additional freight traffic of 143 MTPA
The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 143 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum).
The railways being environment friendly and energy efficient mode of transportation, will help both in achieving climate goals and minimizing logistics cost of the country, reduce oil import (32.20 Crore Litres) and lower CO2 emissions (0.87 Million Tonnes) which is equivalent to the plantation of 3.5 crore trees.
