Cabinet approves 4 multi-tracking rail projects

Arun Kumar Das

New Delhi, Aug 19: Government today approved four multitracking projects to decongest the existing high density railway routes.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared four projects of the Ministry of Railways covering eight districts in West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, increasing the existing network of Indian Railways by about 410 Kms with total cost of Rs 9,450 crore.

These projects include:

opKharagpur – Bhadrak (Ranital) 4th Line – 173 km (West Bengal and Odisha);

Bhadrak – Haridaspur 4th Line – 75 km (Odisha);
Gummidipundi – Gudur 3rd and 4th Line – 90 km (Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu);
Cuttack – Paradeep (Badabandha) 3rd and 4th Line – 72 km (Odisha).

These multi-tracking proposals are poised to streamline operations and alleviate congestion.

The four projects covering eight districts across the states of West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 410 Kms.

The proposed multi-tracking projects will enhance connectivity to approximately 6,448 villages, which are having a population of about 60 lakhs.

The proposed capacity enhancement will improve rail connectivity to several prominent tourist destinations across the country, including Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhitarkanika National Park, Maa Bhadrakali temple, Maa Dhamarai temple, Panchalingeswar Temple, Talsari–Udaypur and Chandipur Beach, Pulicat Lake, Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Lord Veeraraghava Perumal Temple, Gada Kujanga Jagannath Temple, Sarala Temple, Dhabaleswar Temple, Lalitgiri (a Buddhist site), etc.

The proposed projects are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as coal, iron ore, cement, iron and steel, container, automobile, food grains, etc.