New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved three critical railway multitracking projects worth Rs 10,783 crore on Wednesday, spanning Odisha and four other states.
Covering 14 districts across Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, the initiative will expand the Indian Railways network by approximately 656 kilometres.
Slated for completion by 2029–30, the approved projects comprise the Kharagpur–Jharsuguda (Bagdehi) 4th Line, the Katni–Pendra Road 4th Line, and the Bilaspur (Uslapur)–Pendra Road 3rd Line. Planned under the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, these additions aim to ease severe route congestion, streamline operations, and deliver seamless multi-modal connectivity for passengers and freight.
An official statement said the expansive network upgrade is projected to benefit roughly 4,790 villages housing a population of around 56 lakhs.
Furthermore, the enhanced infrastructure will improve accessibility to prominent regional tourist and spiritual destinations, including Odisha’s Taratarini Temple and the ancient Shri Khetra Jagannath Temple near Jharsuguda, alongside the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Amarkantak Temple, and Malhar Archaeological Site.
As vital transit corridors for heavy commodities like coal, cement, and iron and steel, the capacity augmentation is expected to generate an additional 27 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) in freight traffic.
Beyond economic gains, the eco-friendly transport upgrade aligns with national climate goals by lowering logistics costs, reducing oil imports by approximately 12 crore litres, and cutting CO_2 emissions by 62 crore kg—an environmental impact equivalent to planting 2.48 crore trees.