Railways / Union Cabinet Clears Rs9,450-Cr Rail Projects; Odisha Gets Major Boost

New Delhi, Aug 19: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved four multi-tracking railway projects worth Rs9,450 crore on Wednesday. Together, they will expand the Indian Railways network by 410 km across West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

These railway projects include:

1.      Kharagpur – Bhadrak (Ranital) 4th Line – 173 km (West Bengal and Odisha)

2.      Bhadrak – Haridaspur 4th Line – 75 km (Odisha)

3.      Gummidipundi – Gudur 3rd and 4th Line – 90 km (Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu)

4.      Cuttack – Paradeep (Badabandha) 3rd and 4th Line - 72 km (Odisha)

 
Odisha in Focus

Odisha emerges as a key beneficiary, with three of the four projects directly impacting the state. The Bhadrak–Haridaspur 4th Line (75 km), Cuttack–Paradeep 3rd and 4th Line (72 km), and the Kharagpur–Bhadrak 4th Line (173 km, partly in Odisha) will significantly enhance connectivity to Paradip Port, Bhadrak, and Cuttack. These routes are vital for freight movement, especially coal, iron ore, cement, steel, and food grains.

Connectivity and Tourism

The projects will connect 6,448 villages with a population of nearly 60 lakh. Improved access to tourist destinations such as Bhitarkanika National Park, Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Maa Bhadrakali Temple, Chandipur Beach, and Lalitgiri Buddhist site is expected to boost Odisha’s cultural and eco-tourism profile.

Freight and Green Gains

Capacity augmentation is projected to generate additional freight traffic of 76 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). Officials said the projects will reduce congestion and streamline operations, while cutting oil imports by 13 crore litres and lowering CO2 emissions by 65 crore kg — equivalent to planting 2.6 crore trees.
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Vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat

Planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the projects aim to enhance multi-modal connectivity and logistics efficiency. “These projects are in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a New India, making people of the region Atmanirbhar (self relient) by enhancing employment and self-employment opportunities,” the Cabinet communique stated.