Modi Cabinet Grants Approval to Rs. 32,500 Crore Multi-Tracking Projects for Indian Railways

New Delhi, August 16, 2023: A significant stride towards modernizing and optimizing India’s railway infrastructure has been taken as the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sanctioned the implementation of seven multi-tracking projects for Indian Railways. With an aggregate estimated value of Rs. 32,500 Crore, these projects are set to revolutionize rail operations and connectivity across the country.

Strategic Objectives and Benefits

The primary aim of these projects is to enhance the existing line capacity, optimize train operations, alleviate congestion, and augment the overall ease of travel and transportation. The multi-tracking endeavors are expected to usher in an era of seamless movement and enhanced efficiency within the Indian Railways network, addressing critical issues in some of the busiest segments.

Empowering Employment and Connectivity

A core facet of these projects is their potential to generate substantial direct employment opportunities. During the construction phase, an estimated 7.06 crore man-days of employment will be generated, fostering economic empowerment across the nation. Moreover, the projects will span across 35 Districts in 9 States, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

Facilitating Freight Traffic and Commodities Movement

These multi-tracking initiatives are strategically designed to facilitate the smooth transportation of a diverse array of essential commodities, such as food grains, fertilizers, coal, cement, fly ash, iron and finished steel, clinkers, crude oil, lime stone, and edible oil. With the proposed capacity augmentation efforts, there will be an impressive addition of approximately 200 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) to the freight traffic volume.

Environmental Responsibility and Economic Efficiency

Recognized as an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient mode of transportation, the Indian Railways will play a pivotal role in achieving both climate objectives and reducing the logistics costs of the nation. By augmenting capacity and streamlining operations, these projects are set to contribute significantly to the country’s sustainable development.

A Vision for Self-Reliance and Integration

Aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of a ‘New India,’ these projects represent a crucial step towards fostering self-reliance and promoting a multi-tasking workforce. The resulting employment and self-employment opportunities are expected to uplift the regions, making them self-sufficient and contributing to the larger economic growth.

Integrated National Connectivity

These groundbreaking initiatives are part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for Multi-Model Connectivity. This holistic plan aims to seamlessly connect people, goods, and services, thus making India’s transportation network more cohesive and efficient.

With these projects now greenlit, India’s railway sector is poised for transformation, bolstering connectivity, enhancing economic growth, and contributing to the nation’s overall progress.

The projects include: