New Delhi: The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved two Railway projects with total estimated cost of Rs 6,798 crore. The two Railway projects include, doubling of Narkatiaganj-Raxaul-Sitamarhi-Darbhanga and Sitamarhi-Muzaffarpur Section and the construction of new line between Errupalem and Namburu via Amaravati. The projects are located in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The Cabinet approved the two Railway projects are expected to be completed in 5 years. The projects are aimed at providing connectivity, facilitating ease of travelling, minimising logistics cost, reducing oil imports and lower CO2 emissions.
Narkatiaganj-Raxaul-Sitamarhi-Darbhanga & Sitamarhi-Muzaffarpur Section
This Railway project will improve connectivity to Nepal, North-east India and border areas. The smooth movement of passenger trains and goods train will lead to the socio-economic growth of the region.
Errupalem-Amaravati-Namburu will pass through through NTR Vijayawada and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh and Khammam district of Telangana.
“New Line project will provide connectivity to approx. 168 villages and about 12 Lakh population with 9 new stations. Multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to Two Aspirational Districts (Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur) serving approx. 388 villages and about 9 lakh population,” Ministry of Railways stated.
The Ministry of Railways stated that the new projects are important for transportation of fertiliser, cement, coal, agriculture products, iron ore, steel, etc. “The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 31 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum),” the release mentioned.
The Railway projects will help in achieving climate goals and also lower logistics cost of the country, lower CO2 emissions (168 Crore Kg) which is equivalent to plantation of 7 crore trees.
The new line proposal between Errupalem and Namburu will help in direct connectivity to “Amaravati” the proposed Capital of Andhra Pradesh. It will ensure smooth mobility for industries and the population, providing enhanced efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways.
“The multi-tracking proposal will ease operations and reduce congestion, providing the much-required infrastructural development on the busiest sections across Indian Railways,” the statemement read.
