New Delhi: In Friday’s session, chaired by Mr. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs recommended eight massive railway projects estimated to be around ₹24,657 crore. This approval has brought a lot of achievement to India’s railway system as the projects are expected to increase the accessibility in 14 districts, 7 states including Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana, West Bengal.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw outlined the specifics of the approved projects, which include the construction of new railway lines on several key routes: Some of them are Gunupur-Therubali, Junagarh-Nabrangpur, Badampahar-Kandujhargarh, Bangriposi-Gorumahisani, Malkangiri-Pandurangapuram (via Bhadrachalam), Buramara-Chakulia, Jalna-Jalgaon, Bikramshila-Katareah. New lines are expected in order to enhance the level of connection and transport, as well as passenger and freight transport, offering an enhanced service level.
The government insists that these railway projects implement PM Narendra Modi’s Vision of a New India as a self-reliant India by focusing on enhanced regional integration. The projects are expected to generate many employment opportunities and increase self-employment in the regions to be contracted. The development will also boost the economic returns of the respective regions.
Besides, the initiatives by cabinet will add 709 kilometres of new lines, including 64 new railway stations, increasing connectivity up to six aspirational districts – East Singhbum, Bhadadri Kothagudem, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, and Rayagada, apart from approximately 510 villages, and population of about 4 million. A point worth noting about the project is the integration of the Ajanta caves as a World Heritage site into the Indian Railway Network, which is believed to boost tourism.
These new railway lines will help a lot in transporting various commodities such as agricultural products, fertilizers, coal, iron and steel products such as iron ores, Steel products, cement, bauxite and limestone, aluminium powder and alkalies, granite, ballast, containers etc. This integrated development process is expected to increase the effectiveness of transporting goods across the land and boost economic development and regionalization.
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