Cabinet approves ₹18k cr for railway projects

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved ₹18,658 crore for four railway projects covering 15 districts in Maharashtra, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, and another ₹6,839 crore to develop villages on India's borders with Pakistan and China.

- Neha LM Tripathi

NEW DELHI:

The railway projects, approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, include construction of the third and fourth lines between Sambalpur and Jarapda, and Jharsuguda and Sason; the fifth and sixth lines between Kharsia-Naya Raipur and Parmalkasa; and the doubling of line between Gondia and Balharshah.

According to a government statement, the completion of these projects will expand Indian Railways' network by 1,247km, enhancing connectivity to two aspirational districts such as Gadchiroli and Rajnandgaon besides enhancing connectivity to approximately 3,350 villages and 4.7 million people.