The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved two significant railway infrastructure projects in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, with a combined estimated cost of ₹3,399 crore.
The projects involve the construction of additional railway lines on the Ratlam–Nagda and Wardha–Balharshah routes. Aimed at improving connectivity and enhancing the seamless movement of passengers and freight, these projects are expected to play a vital role in regional development.
Scheduled for completion by the fiscal year 2029–30, the projects will span approximately 176 kilometers, covering four districts across the two states These initiatives fall under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity. Enabled by integrated planning, the projects aim to provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services.
The enhanced capacity is expected to benefit approximately 784 villages, impacting a population of nearly 19.74 lakh. These corridors are vital for the transportation of key commodities such as coal, cement, clinker, gypsum, fly ash, containers, agricultural produce, and petroleum products.
The capacity augmentation is projected to handle additional freight traffic of 18.40 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). This is expected to optimize supply chains, lower logistics costs, and accelerate economic growth.
The multitracking work will also have a strong environmental impact. It is expected to reduce oil imports by 20 crore litres and cut CO₂ emissions by 99 crore kilograms, equivalent to the plantation of 4 crore trees. The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways.
In terms of job creation, the projects are set to generate approximately 74 lakh person-days of direct employment during the construction phase.
The projects align with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a “New India” and aim to make the local population Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) by enabling comprehensive regional development and improving employment and self-employment opportunities.
from National https://ift.tt/EQjJnO0