The center approved ₹6,405 crore railway doubling projects to improve connectivity in seven districts.

On Wednesday, two railway multitracking projects totaling 318 kilometers in length were approved by the Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. It is anticipated that these initiatives, which span seven districts in Jharkhand, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, will boost freight flow along crucial train lines, decrease traffic, and improve connectivity. It is projected that the initiatives will cost ₹6,405 crore in total.

The Koderma–Barkakana line, which runs 133 kilometers through a crucial coal-producing area of Jharkhand, will be doubled as part of the first project. Additionally, this route is an essential rail connection between Ranchi and Patna. The second project will quadruple the 185-kilometer distance between Ballari and Chikjajur, which will go through the districts of Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh and Ballari and Chitradurga in Karnataka. Bulk commodities like coal, iron ore, finished steel, cement, fertilizers, petroleum products, and agricultural products are all transported over these routes, which are important.

The Ministry of Railways says that the projects are intended to improve operating efficiency and dependability by doubling current single-line sections in order to alleviate capacity limitations. Increased passenger and freight traffic will also be supported by the new infrastructure, especially for vital commodities like coal, cement, fertilizers, petroleum products, and agricultural supplies.

It is anticipated that during development, the projects will directly employ almost 108 lakh people. The additional freight capacity, projected at 49 million tonnes annually, will assist lower logistical costs and oil imports by almost 52 crore litres, according to the Railway Ministry's economic and environmental effect projections. Additionally, it is anticipated that the initiatives will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 264 crore kg, or the equivalent of growing 11 crore trees.

The two lines would improve access to over 1,408 villages, which together have a population of about 28.19 lakh. The projects are in line with the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which aims to promote integrated and seamless multi-modal connectivity, the Railway Ministry said.