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New Line Projects Across Indian Railways
Context:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved eight projects from the Ministry of Railways.
About the Project:
- The eight projects, covering 14 districts across Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana, and West Bengal, will expand the Indian Railways network by 900 kilometres.
- The project will be completed by 2030-31.
- The projects, part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity, result from integrated planning and will enhance seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services.
- New Station:With these projects, 64 new stations will be constructed, enhancing connectivity to six aspirational districts (East Singhbhum, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada), approximately 510 villages, and about 4 million people.
- Need of the Project:Historically, lack of coordination between departments led to inefficiencies, such as roads being dug up repeatedly for laying cables or pipelines.
Significance of the Project:
- Enhance connectivity, improve mobility, and boost efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways.
- Enhance their employment/ self-employment opportunities.
- Enhance logistical efficiency by connecting previously unlinked areas and improving transportation networks, leading to streamlined supply chains and accelerated economic growth.
Recent Indian Railways Initiative
- Environmental Impact:Railways, being an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient mode of transportation, will contribute to climate goals, reduce logistics costs, decrease oil imports, and lower CO2 emissions.
- Tourism Boost:The projects will connect major sites such as the Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to the railway network, boosting tourism.
- These routes are crucial for transporting commodities like agricultural products, fertiliser, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, bauxite, limestone, aluminium powder, granite, ballast, and containers.
- The capacity augmentation will lead to increased freight traffic.
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