Cabinet approves Rs 12,328 crore railway projects in Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, Assam

The projects are planned on PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan with focused on enhancing multi-modal connectivity &logistic efficiency

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved four railway projects of the Ministry of Railways with a total cost of about Rs 12,328 crore, aimed at boosting passenger and freight connectivity and reducing logistics costs.

The projects include the Deshalpar–Hajipir–Luna and Vayor–Lakhpat new line in Gujarat, Secunderabad (Sanathnagar)–Wadi 3rd and 4th line in Karnataka and Telangana, Bhagalpur–Jamalpur 3rd line in Bihar, and Furkating–New Tinsukia doubling in Assam. Together, they will add nearly 565 km to the rail network and benefit over 50 lakh people across 13 districts.

The new Deshalpar–Hajipir–Luna and Vayor–Lakhpat line in Gujarat, with an outlay of Rs 2,526 crore, will add 145 route km and 164 track km. It is expected to be completed in three years and will connect remote parts of Kutch, including the Rann of Kutch, while boosting tourism to Dholavira, Koteshwar temple, Narayan Sarovar and Lakhpat fort. The project will also facilitate transport of salt, cement, coal, clinker and bentonite, covering 866 villages and about 16 lakh people.

"The multi-tracking projects in Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar and Assam, with a combined cost of nearly Rs 9,800 crore, will enhance line capacity, ease congestion and improve operational efficiency," according to an official statement.

The Secunderabad–Wadi 3rd and 4th line (Rs 5,012 crore) will span 173 km and is scheduled to be completed in five years. The Bhagalpur–Jamalpur 3rd line (Rs 1,156 crore) will cover 53 km in Bihar and take three years, while the Furkating–New Tinsukia doubling (Rs 3,634 crore) in Assam will extend over 194 km and be completed in four years.

According to officials, the projects will generate about 251 lakh human-days of employment during construction, benefit 3,108 villages and 47.34 lakh people, including residents of one aspirational district (Kalaburagi in Karnataka).

The additional capacity will support freight movement of 68 million tonnes per annum, covering coal, cement, steel, containers, fertilizers, petroleum products and agricultural commodities. The projects are also expected to save 56 crore litres of oil and cut CO₂ emissions by 360 crore kg – equivalent to planting 14 crore trees.