Cabinet approves Rs 18,658 crore Railway projects to boost infra across 3 states

New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved four major multi-tracking railway projects worth approximately Rs 18,658 crore. The initiatives, proposed by the Ministry of Railways, aim to bolster critical infrastructure across Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, covering 15 districts and expanding the Indian Railways network by around 1,247 kilometres.

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The sanctioned projects include:

• Sambalpur – Jarapda (3rd and 4th Line)

• Jharsuguda – Sason (3rd and 4th Line)

• Kharsia – Naya Raipur – Parmalkasa (5th and 6th Line)

• Gondia – Balharshah (Doubling of line)

These projects are strategically aligned with the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which promotes multi-modal connectivity through integrated and comprehensive planning. The multi-tracking initiatives are aimed at easing congestion on high-density routes, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing service reliability across the railway network.

According to the government, the approved projects will serve a population of approximately 47.25 lakh people and improve connectivity to nearly 3,350 villages. Significantly, they will also bring enhanced rail access to two aspirational districts—Gadchiroli in Maharashtra and Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh. A total of 19 new railway stations will be constructed under these projects.

One of the key components, the Kharsia – Naya Raipur – Parmalkasa line**, is expected to provide direct connectivity to previously underserved areas like Baloda Bazar. This is likely to catalyse industrial development, including the potential establishment of new cement plants and other industrial units in the region.

The improved rail infrastructure will also facilitate the more efficient movement of key commodities such as coal, steel, cement, limestone, fertilizer, and agricultural produce. The capacity augmentation is projected to handle additional freight traffic of 88.77 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA).

Highlighting the environmental benefits, the Ministry said the enhanced rail capacity would help the country meet its climate targets by reducing oil imports by approximately 95 crore litres and cutting carbon emissions by 477 crore kilograms —an impact equivalent to the planting of 19 crore trees.

These projects are expected to generate direct and indirect employment opportunities, in line with the government’s vision of creating a self-reliant (‘Atmanirbhar’) India through inclusive and sustainable regional development.

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