The North News
New Delhi, June 11
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has cleared two major railway infrastructure projects worth ₹6,405 crore, aimed at boosting connectivity and operational efficiency across Jharkhand, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. The railway projects — Koderma–Barkakana Doubling (133 km) and Ballari–Chikjajur Doubling (185 km) — are set to significantly enhance freight capacity and reduce travel times across key regions. Together, the schemes will add 318 km of new rail lines to the national network and benefit over 1,400 villages with a combined population of nearly 2.8 million people.
The Koderma–Barkakana line, located in Jharkhand, runs through one of the state’s major coal-producing zones and forms the shortest and most efficient rail link between Patna and Ranchi. The Ballari–Chikjajur route cuts across mineral-rich districts in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, including Ballari, Chitradurga, and Anantapur.
Officials said the enhanced line capacity would not only reduce congestion but also improve service reliability and logistics efficiency. The projects are designed to support the transport of coal, iron ore, steel, cement, fertilisers, agricultural produce, and petroleum products.
The railway ministry expects an additional freight traffic capacity of 49 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) as a result of these upgrades. The projects also align with India’s climate goals. By shifting more freight to rail, an energy-efficient and environmentally cleaner mode of transport, the government estimates savings of 52 crore litres of oil and a reduction of 264 crore kg of CO₂ — equivalent to planting 110 million trees.
These investments fall under the broader umbrella of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which emphasises integrated, multi-modal infrastructure development. The government said the projects reflect Modi’s vision of an “Atmanirbhar Bharat” by creating local employment opportunities and driving regional economic growth.
#IndianRailways #ModiGovernment #PMGatiShakti #Jharkhand #Karnataka #AndhraPradesh #SustainableTransport #RailwayDoubling #GreenEnergy #EconomicDevelopment
