Cabinet clears 7 railway projects to add 2,339 km to existing network

NEW DELHI : The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared seven railway projects with an estimated cost of Rs 32,500 crore, which will add 2,339 km to the existing network covering states namely Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Telangana, Odisha and Gujarat.

The projects, which include upgradation of the existing railway lines including their quadrupling and doubling, will facilitate capacity generation for movement of 120 million tonnes of extra cargo and will also help travel of migrant workers and students, Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

The projects will receive 100 per cent funding from the Central government and connect major industrial and commercial hubs of the country.

They will help increase the existing line capacity, smoothen train operations, reduce congestion and facilitate ease of travelling and transportation, the minister said.

The details of the projects are as follows: Doubling of existing Gorakhpur Cantonment (Valmiki Nagar single line section) in Uttar Pradesh (Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Kushi Nagar) for 89.264 km, and Bihar (West Champaran) for 6.676 km.

Doubling of existing Guntur-Bibinagar single-line section in Andhra Pradesh (Guntur) for 1 km, and Telangana (Nalgonda, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri) for 139 km.

Doubling of existing Chopan-Chunar single-line section in Uttar Pradesh (Mirzapur, Sonbhadra) for 101.58 km.