Bhubaneswar: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Eight (8) projects of the Ministry of Railways with a total estimated cost of Rs. 24,657 crore (approx.) out of which four are exclusively in Odisha. The other two projects cover parts of Odisha.
The four railway line projects that are exclusively in Odisha are 73.62 KM Gunupur-Therubali (new line) covering Rayagada district, 116.21 KM Junagarh-Nabarangpur covering Kalahandi and Nabarangpur districts, 82.06 KM Badampahar-Kendujhargarh covering Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts and 85.60 Bangriposi-Gorumahisani covering Mayurbhanj district.
The other two railway line projects that cover parts of Odisha are 173.61 KM Malkangiri-Pandurangpuram(via Bhadrachalam) covering Malkangiri district, and 59.96 KM Buramara-Chakulia covering Mayurbhanj district.
The new line proposals will provide direct connectivity and improve mobility, providing enhanced efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. The projects are in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of a New India which will make people of the region “Atmanirbhar” by way of comprehensive development in the area which will enhance their employment/ self-employment opportunities.
The projects are the result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity which has been possible through integrated planning and will provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods and services.
The 8 (Eight) projects covering 14 Districts in Seven States i.e., Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana and West Bengal will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by 900 kms.
These are essential routes for the transportation of commodities such as agricultural products, fertilizer, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, bauxite, limestone, aluminium powder, granite, ballast, containers etc. The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 143 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum). The Railways being environment-friendly and energy-efficient mode of transportation, will help both in achieving climate goals and minimizing logistics cost of the country, reduce oil import (32.20 Crore Litres) and lower CO2 emissions (0.87 MillionTonnes) which is equivalent to plantation of 3.5 crore trees.
