Bhubaneswar: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday approved eight railway projects in the country including six from Odisha. Total estimated cost of these eight projects is around Rs 24,657 crore.
These six projects were Gunupur-Therubali new line (73.6km), Junagarh- Nabarangpur new line (116.2km), Badampahar-Kendujhargarh new line (82km), Bangriposi-Gorumahisani new line (85.6km), Malkangiri-Pandurangapuram via Bhadrachalam newline (173.6km) and Buramara-Chakulia rail line (60km).
First four new line projects will be in Odisha. Malkangiri-Pandurangapuram via Bhadrachalam newline will connect Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while Buramara-Chakulia project will connect Odisha with Jharkhand and West Bengal.
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while talking to media in New Delhi said new line proposals will provide direct connectivity and improve mobility, providing enhanced efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways.
These six projects covering 12 districts in five states- Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana and West Bengal will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by 700 km.
These projects will enhance connectivity to aspirational districts of the states. These are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as agriculture products, fertilizer, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, bauxite, limestone, aluminium powder, granite, ballast and containers, said the official sources.