Cabinet approves 8 new railway projects worth Rs 24,600 crore, says Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Under these projects, 64 new stations will be constructed, enhancing connectivity to 6 "aspirational districts", including East Singhbum, BhadadriKothagudem, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada), and approximately 510 villages and about 40 lakh people.

Providing a boost to tourism, the new railway network will also connect Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site, facilitating large number of tourists.

"The new line proposals will provide direct connectivity and improve mobility, providing enhanced efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways," the minister said.

Vaishnaw said these projects are result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity which have been possible through integrated planning and will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods and services.

According to the minister, the new networks are crucial routes for transportation of commodities such as agriculture products, fertilizer, coal, iron ore, steel, cement among several others.

These projects will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 143 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) and help achieve climate goals by cutting CO2 emissions by 0.87 million tonnes and and reducing oil imports by 32.2 crore litres, according to government statement.

Separately, to boost farmers income, the government has approved a Clean Plant Program (CPP) for Rs Rs 1,765.67 crore, through which horticulture industry's concerns on the spread of virus that affects productivity will be addressed. "The CPP will provide access to virus-free, high-quality planting material, leading to increased crop yields and improved income opportunities."

Moreover, nine world class state-of-the-art Clean Plant Centres, equipped with advanced diagnostic therapeutics and tissue culture labs, will be established across India.