The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved two major railway multitracking projects worth approximately ₹3,907 crore to strengthen rail infrastructure in Odisha and Jharkhand. The projects will add about 145 kilometres to the existing Indian Railways network and significantly enhance freight movement, passenger connectivity, and operational efficiency.
The approved projects include:
- Paradeep – Haridaspur Doubling
- Rajkharsawan – Dangoaposi Fourth Railway Line
According to the Ministry of Railways, these capacity augmentation projects aim to ease congestion on critical rail corridors, improve service reliability, and support the government’s vision of creating a faster, more efficient, and future-ready railway network. The projects have been planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, emphasizing integrated infrastructure planning and multimodal connectivity.
The railway expansion will cover four districts across Odisha and Jharkhand and improve connectivity to approximately 1,526 villages, benefiting an estimated 14 lakh people. Besides facilitating smoother passenger travel, the projects are expected to improve access to prominent tourist destinations such as the Lalitgiri Buddhist Complex, Shree Baladevjew Temple, and Meghahatuburu Hills.
The new lines will also strengthen freight transportation on key mineral corridors, enabling efficient movement of commodities including coal, iron ore, dolomite, limestone, and gypsum. The Ministry estimates that the enhanced network will generate an additional freight handling capacity of around 44 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).
From an environmental perspective, the projects are expected to reduce logistics costs while supporting India’s climate commitments. The increased use of rail transport is projected to save nearly 6 crore litres of imported oil and reduce 29 crore kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, an environmental benefit equivalent to planting approximately one crore trees.
The government stated that these infrastructure investments are aligned with the vision of an “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, creating new employment and self-employment opportunities while enhancing regional economic development through improved transportation infrastructure.
Also Read: India to Launch First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Train, Marking a New Era in Green Rail Mobility
Join our WhatsApp Channel for fastest updates: Join now