Enhancing Indian Railways: The Cabinet’s Approval of Three Key Railway Projects

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved three indian railways projects

Why Indian Railways in news?

India’s transport system is set for an upgrade of a lifetime as the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) headed by PM Narendra Modi clears three indian railway projects. Altogether, envisaged to cost about ₹6,456 crore, these projects are not simple track extension projects but strategic projects that are well in tune with the prospective vision of improving connectivity, the over-arching objectives of reviving the economy and making the structures environmentally sustainable all over the country. Due to these projects, about 114 lakh man-days direct employments are expected that will greatly help the regional economy and assist in developing an integrated transport structure in the country by the fiscal year 2028-29.

The Three Railway Projects: A Closer Look

The three projects approved by the CCEA are:

Jamshedpur-Purulia-Asansol 3rd Line
Sardega-Bhalumuda New Double Line
Bargarh Road-Nawapara Road New Line

These projects are located in four states of India, namely Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh; these projects will add 300 more Kilometers of Railway lines to Indian Railways network. It will enable them to become useful tools for the removal of other operational constraints, reliability of services and efficiency of the railway system which is central to the support of growing economic activity in the country.

Jamshedpur-Purulia-Asansol 3rd Line: Strengthening Regional Connectivity

The Jamshedpur-Purulia-Asansol 3rd Line project is proposed for 121 kilometers with costs approximate to ₹2,170 crore.
This multiple tracking plan is a substantial improvement over the current method of railway infrastructure that has been established between West Bengal and Jharkhand which are important areas for industrial production of the country.
The aim of the project is to enhance provision of passengers’ transport, goods, and services transport in the region by making transport performance efficient.
The new line is location configured to increase accessibility of other major trunk routes especially Delhi-Howrah an Howrah-Mumbai.
These routs are very useful for transport of iron ore and coal to the steel plants at Burnpur and Durgapur and for transportation of finished steel products.
This project is expected to bring in employment for 42 lakh man-days benefitting the families and Economically Backward Classes or EBCs in the region.
Additionally, through improving the conditions for transport and transit of freight, the project will reduce unfavorable effects of 74 crore kilograms CO2 emission which is equivalent of planting 3 crore trees.

Sardega-Bhalumuda New Double Line: Connecting Tribal Regions

Sardega-Bhalumuda New Double Line project is a rail length of 37 KM which joins sundargarh district of Odisha state with Raigarh district of chhattisgarh state.
Of total estimated cost ₹1,360 crore, this project is useful to large tribal population in these regions who are socially and culturally related but unserved by adequate public transport due to inhospitable terrain.
Currently there is no provision of Bus service between the two places, Sardega & Bhalumuda and the general public has to travel through private transport in that particular region.
Availability of this railway line will enhance the public transport for inhabitants of these adjoining villages, thus enhancing the prospects of easy and reliable means of transport.
The construction of this project will also create employment opportunity of 25 lakh man-days during the construction process thus contributing significantly to the local economies.
Environmentally, the over all impact will be positive, with a Conservation of 84 crore kilograms of CO2 emissions say equivalent to the amount of CO2 that can be absorbed by planting 3 crore trees. 4 crore trees.
This is in tune with the country’s overall vision to minimize carbon footprint as well as the concept of green growth.

Bargarh Road-Nawapara Road New Line: Boosting Connectivity in Odisha

The greatest of is the Bargarh Road to Nawapara Road New Line which is 138 km long and envisaged to cost ₹2,926 crore.
This new railway line will contribute profoundly in the integrated communication network in Odisha especially in the Bargarh and Nuapada districts.
The line will reduce the distance between Sambalpur and Raipur by; about 87 kilometers; improving transport and food business in that region.
A goods shed is planned to be constructed at Padampur, which is one of the central points in transportation of the produced produce such as rice, as well as receipt of cement, steel and fertilizers in the area.
This infrastructure will also assist in the handloom textile industry specifically Sambalpuri handloom textile industry hence benefiting the artisan of the place economically. Further, it shall also help in the growth of the cultural and religious tourism owing to its location adjacent to Nrusinghanath Temple.
A quantified estimation of the Bargarh Road-Nawapara Road project is 47 lakh man-days which are a big employment for the local employees.
On an environmental impact, the project will be able to reduce CO2 emission by 82 crore kilograms which will be equivalent to planting 3. 3 crore trees.

Strategic Importance of These Projects

These railway projects are not simply a channel of increasing the track while it intends to consolidate multiple railway infrastructure to enable multi-modal connectivity construction as part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
This plan also advocates for the combination of planning and undertaking procedures in handling different modes of transport including; railway, road transport, airline, and water transport.
These projects will help uplifting Indian Railways’ mobility, efficiency and service reliability, whereby they will help to ease congestion, remove constraints in operations and supply chain and hence will contribute to India’s development.
Furthermore, it can be mentioned that these projects meet the vision of a ‘New India’ announced by the head of the Indian government, Narendra Modi: the goal is to make the local people experimental objects of all-round regional development.
These railway projects will improve connectivity between unconnected areas, increase the carrying capacity of a line, thus improving communication and transportation thereby improving employment and self-employment opportunities mainly in rural and semi-urban areas.

Environmental and Economic Impact

These project therefore have zero negative impacts to the environment and they have numerous beneficial impacts to the environment.
These initiatives will take a positive step towards fulfilling India’s commitment towards low emission development by encouraging the usage of rail transport which is more energy efficient, and less polluting than road transport.
Such a decline in the overall CO2 emissions is as good as planting millions of trees making the projects a concrete step towards a more environmens-friendly future.
Economically, the projects should create plenty of employment when undertaken in the construction stage thus improving the economy.
New constructions or extensions of railway lines/stations will enhance market access, education or health, therefore positively impacting on the development of the associated regions.

Conclusion

In as far as the rail transport is concerned, the approval by the Cabinet on these three mega strategic railway projects goes a long way in boosting the transport infrastructure in India.
These projects will not just spur economic activities in the respective regions, but will also align with Indian initiatives of making a sustainable and a more or less a self-reliant India by reducing the hurdles in the Social Infrastructure connectivity in terms of which the Railway Network has been expanded.
The potential revenues such as huge employment opportunities for the people, environmental improvement prove the fact that these measures augur well for growth of the nation and a networked and prosperous future.

FAQS

Q1: What are the three railway projects approved by the Cabinet?
Ans: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved three key indian railway projects: the Jamshedpur-Purulia-Asansol 3rd Line, the Sardega-Bhalumuda New Double Line, and the Bargarh Road-Nawapara Road New Line. These projects aim to enhance connectivity, reduce congestion, and improve logistical efficiency.

Q2: What is the total cost of indian railway projects?
Ans: The total estimated cost of the three Indian Railways projects is approximately ₹6,456 crore.

Q3: How will these projects benefit the Indian Railways?
Ans: These Indian Railways projects will provide direct connectivity to previously unlinked regions, enhance the efficiency and reliability of services, alleviate operational bottlenecks, and reduce congestion on some of the busiest railway sections in India.

Q4: What is the expected completion timeline for these projects?
Ans: The projects are expected to be completed by the fiscal year 2028-29.