Cabinet approves additional railway lines for Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha

Union Cabinet approves railway line projects in Chhattisgarh and Odisha to boost cargo movement and reduce congestion.

The Union Cabinet has approved fifth and sixth railway line for Chhattisgarh from Kharsia - Naya Raipur - Parmalkasa with an outlay of ₹8,741 crore, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Friday. The lines will have 278 route kilometres, and 615 track kilometres respectively.

“This is along the lines of a dedicated freight corridor. In this area of Chhattisgarh, the high demand for passenger rail was constrained due to congestion. This project will reduce that congestion to zero. There are 21 stations, 48 bridges, 349 minor bridges, and 5 rail flyovers,” Mr. Vaishnaw explained.

“21-38 million tonnes of additional cargo will be accommodated, and 8 new trains will be able to run, mail express and semi-high speed. There is an environmental factor too, 113 crore kilograms of CO2 will be saved. That is the equivalent to planting 4.5 crore trees,” he added.

Mr. Vaishnaw also announced doubling of railway line from Gondia to Ballarshah in Maharashtra, for an outlay of ₹4,819 crore.

“This route is a big artery from North to South Maharashtra. Two sections were a single line. One section has been covered, and a DPR for the other one will be out soon,” M.Vaishnaw said, adding that tourism could be boosted as there are many good wildlife projects, tiger reserve along the way.

“Naxal affected areas had slower economic activity in the area from Wadsa to Gadchiroli, it will now increase. Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand’s cargo movement will be faster to the South,” he said.

The Union Cabinet has also approved the third and fourth railway line in Odisha: Jarapada(Talcher-Angul area)- Sambalpur. This will cost ₹3,917 crore with a route length of 127km and a track length of 277km.