The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved two projects of the railways ministry with a total cost of Rs. 6,405 crore.

These projects include: 

1. Koderma – Barkakana Doubling (133 Kms): The project section passes through a major coal producing area of Jharkhand. It serves as the shortest and more efficient rail link between Patna and Ranchi. 

2. Ballari – Chikjajur Doubling (185 kms.): The project line traverses through Ballari and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka and Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. 

The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. These multi-tracking proposals are poised to streamline operations and alleviate congestion. The projects are in line with the PM'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 result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity which have been possible through integrated planning and will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods and services. 

The two projects covering seven Districts across the states of Jharkhand, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 318 Kms. 

The approved multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to about 1,408 villages, which are having a population of about 28.19 lakh. 

These are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as coal, iron ore, finished steel, cement, fertilizers, agriculture commodities, and Petroleum products etc. The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 49 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 (52 crore litres) and lower CO2 emissions (264 crore kg) which is equivalent to plantation of 11 crore trees.