Cabinet approves ₹20,000 cr rail multitracking projects in 9 states

Projects across nine states will add about 1,196 km to the railway network, improve freight capacity and connectivity, and are targeted for completion by 2029-30

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved eight railway multitracking projects covering nine states estimated to cost ₹20,804 crore, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.  

These projects include Arakkonam–Renigunta 3rd and 4th Line (77 km), Whitefield–Bangarapet 3rd and 4th Line (47 km), Hosur–Omalur track doubling (147 km), Salem–Karur–Dindigul doubling (159 km) and multitracking of Secunderabad (Ghatkesar)–Kazipet (110 km). 

The five projects in South India cover 17 districts across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana. They will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 540 km. 

On the Eastern and East Central side, the Cabinet approved Kharagpur–Jharsuguda (Bagdehi) 4th Line, Katni–Pendra Road 4th Line, and Bilaspur (Uslapur)–Pendra Road 3rd Line. 

 

These projects covering 14 districts across West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 656 km, a statement from the Cabinet said.  

These projects are part of the government's larger plan to ensure that India's high-density rail network (HDN) — which comprises seven railway lines — has at least four lines, Vaishnaw said. 

The capacity expansion projects will allow better connectivity for 10 million people across the nine states, and are also aimed at decongesting major metropolitan cities. 

Moreover, the railways expects 74 million tonnes of additional freight from these projects. The railways also managed to do better on the capital expenditure (capex) spending, the railways minister said at the press conference. 

By the first week of September, the railways spent half of its ₹2.93 trillion Budget allocation, he added.  

This is the result of the railways relatively-new practice of front-loading capex. Historically, capex spends would pick up pace towards the year-end.  

The first set of projects will improve rail connectivity to several prominent tourist destinations. They include Tirupati, Subramaniya Swamy Temple (Tiruttani), Sri Padmavati Ammavaari Temple (Tiruchanur), and Kotilingeshwara Devaalaya.