In a bid to provide seamless connectivity while facilitating ease of travelling in new areas, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today (August 9) approved eight railways projects worth about Rs 24,657 crore. These projects will save 767 crore kg of CO2, which is equivalent to planting 30 crore trees, Vaishnaw added.
The projects cover 14 districts in seven states- Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana, and West Bengal. These will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by 900 km.
According to the Ministry, 64 new stations will be constructed, providing enhancing connectivity to six Aspirational Districts, nearly 510 villages and about 40 lakh population.-
- East Singhbum
- Bhadadri Kothagudem
- Malkangiri
- Kalahandi
- Nabarangpur
- Rayagada
New rail lines boost to connectivity-related infra: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that the approval to eight new railway line projects will boost connectivity-related infrastructure. "This is great news for commerce, connectivity and will also enhance job creation," Modi said in a post on X.
Commenting on other decisions taken by the Union Cabinet at a meeting chaired by him, the prime minister said the Clean Plant Programme is an ambitious initiative to revolutionise India's horticulture sector. It will ensure that healthier and high-quality plants are encouraged, he added.
"The amendment to the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana will boost our endeavours towards Aatmanirbharta and encourage energy security," Modi said.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its nod to eight new railway projects that the government has said would provide connectivity, facilitate ease of travelling, reduce oil imports and lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The Cabinet has also approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP) with an outlay of Rs 1,766 crore to revolutionise India's horticulture sector.
Ajanta Caves to be connected to Indian Railway Network
"Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site, will be connected to the Indian Railway Network facilitating a large number of tourists," said the ministry.
Also, the capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of 143 MTPA (million tonnes per annum). These projects will also minimise logistics costs, reduce oil import (crore litres) and lower CO2 emissions (0.87 million tonnes)- equivalent to the plantation of 3.5 crore trees. The projects are a result of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity.
The Indian Railways has achieved a remarkable expansion of 31,180 km from 2014 to 2024, with an average commissioning rate of 8.54 km per day for new lines, gauge conversions, and doubling sections.
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