New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved two key railway multitracking projects in eastern India that will significantly boost freight capacity, improve connectivity to ports and industrial areas, and support regional economic development.
The projects include the doubling of Paradip-Haridaspur railway line in Odisha and the construction of a fourth line between Rajkharsawan and Dangoaposi (part of the broader Dangoaposi-Jaroli corridor) in Jharkhand. Together, they carry an estimated cost of approximately ₹3,907 crore with the Paradip-Haridaspur doubling alone at around ₹2,542 crore and are expected to be completed by 2030-31.
The 82-km Paradip-Haridaspur doubling project in Odisha will strengthen the vital corridor linking mineral-rich hinterlands to Paradip Port, passing through the districts of Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, and Jajpur. This strategic link will enhance port connectivity for bulk commodities and ease existing bottlenecks. “Paradip serves the steel hubs located to the north… Today, a decision was made to double the existing single railway line between Haridaspur and Paradip to provide a major boost to Paradeep Port’s connectivity. The Cabinet approved this 74-kilometre line project. It involves an investment of ₹2,500 crore… The project includes two mega-bridges—over the Luna and Mahanadi rivers—along with 20 major bridges and 109 minor bridges… This project will generate an additional 28 million tonnes of cargo traffic and save 18.5 crore kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions annually… This project is equivalent to planting approximately 74 lakh trees…,” Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told a presser.
The Rajkharsawan-Dangoaposi fourth line project will augment capacity in a key mineral transportation route spanning Jharkhand and Odisha, supporting major steel plants and industrial stakeholders in the region.
Collectively, the initiatives will expand the Indian Railways network by about 145 km, covering four districts across the two states. They are expected to benefit around 1,526 villages with a combined population of about 14 lakh people by improving passenger and freight mobility.
Officials highlighted that the enhanced line capacity will improve operational efficiency, service reliability, and punctuality while alleviating congestion on these busy routes. The projects align with the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, emphasising integrated multi-modal connectivity and logistics efficiency through stakeholder consultations.
