Union Cabinet Approves ₹24,657 Crore Railway Projects for Connectivity

August 10, 2024

On August 9, 2024, the Union Cabinet in India approved eight new railway projects, with a total investment of ₹24,657 crore. These projects aim to improve connectivity, make travel more efficient, and be environmentally friendly by reducing logistics costs and cutting down on carbon emissions.

Project Overview

The new projects will add 900 kilometers to the railway network, covering 14 districts in Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana, and West Bengal. The projects are expected to be finished by 2030-31.

Key Railway Line Routes

The Railway routes include:

Gunupur – Therbubali: 73.62 km
Junagarh – Nabrangpur: 116.21 km
Badampahar – Kandujhargarh: 82.06 km
Bangriposi – Gorumahisani: 85.60 km
Malkangiri – Pandurangapuram: 173.61 km
Buramara – Chakulia: 59.96 km
Jalna – Jalgaon: 174 km
Bikramshila – Katareah: 26.23 km

Logistical Efficiency and Economic Growth

These new routes will connect areas that were previously not linked by rail, improving the efficiency of transportation. This will help create a smoother supply chain and boost economic growth. The construction phase of these projects is expected to generate around three crore man-days of direct employment, which will benefit local economies. The projects will help reduce oil imports by 32.20 crore liters and cut CO2 emissions by 0.87 million tonnes. This is roughly equivalent to planting 3.5 crore trees. The expansion supports the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which focuses on integrated planning for better multi-modal connectivity.

About PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan

The PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan started in October 2021 to improve how infrastructure is planned and built in India. It brings together 16 ministries and focuses on connecting different types of transport. The plan has a huge budget of 100 lakh crore and aims for sustainable development. It uses Geographic Information System (GIS) technology for smooth coordination. By making logistics better, it helps the economy grow and cuts time and costs. Gati Shakti also works with the National Infrastructure Pipeline and aims to support local industries by improving supply chains.

Interesting Railway Facts

Highest Railway: The Qinghai-Tibet Railway in China is the highest railway in the world, reaching 5,072 meters above sea level.
Konkan Railway: India’s Konkan Railway project includes over 147 tunnels.
Longest Iron Ore Railway: Brazil’s Estrada de Ferro Carajás is one of the longest iron ore railways, stretching 892 kilometers.
First Railway Project: The first recorded railway project began in England in 1604 using wooden wagons.
Fast Trains: Japan’s Shinkansen trains can reach speeds of up to 300 km/h.
Channel Tunnel: The Channel Tunnel, which connects the UK to France, took seven years to build.
Longest Railway Line: The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway line in the world, covering about 9,289 kilometers.
Longest Railway Tunnel: The Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland is the world’s longest railway tunnel, measuring 57 km.
Mumbai Local Trains: The local train system in Mumbai carries over 7.5 million passengers daily.
First Steam Locomotive: The first steam locomotive, built by George Stephenson in 1814, was a key development in modern railways.