New Delhi, 25 November (Hindustan Reporter). The Union Cabinet on Monday approved three multitracking projects in the Indian Railways. The cost of the three projects is Rs 7,927 crore (approximately) and will be completed in four years. The three projects covering seven districts in three states – Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh – will expand the existing network of Indian Railways by about 639 kilometres. The capacity addition works will result in additional freight traffic of 51 MTPA (million tonnes per annum).
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has today approved three projects of the Railway Ministry.
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav gave this information in a press conference. He informed that these projects are: Jalgaon-Manmad 4th line (160 km), Bhusaval-Khandwa 3rd and 4th line (131 km) and Prayagraj (Irdatganj)-Manikpur 3rd line (84 km).
He said the proposed multi-tracking projects will ease operations and reduce congestion, thereby providing much-needed infrastructure development on the busiest stretches between Mumbai and Prayagraj.
These projects will increase connectivity to two aspirational districts (Khandwa and Chitrakoot). This will provide facilities to about 1,319 villages and about 38 lakh population.
The proposed projects will enhance connectivity on the Mumbai-Prayagraj-Varanasi route by enabling operation of additional passenger trains, thereby providing services to the Jyotirlingas at Nashik (Trimbakeshwar), Khandwa (Omkareshwar) and Varanasi (Kashi Vishwanath) as well as at Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Gaya and Shirdi. Pilgrims visiting religious places will benefit.
Additionally, these projects will boost tourism through better access to various attractions like Khajuraho UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ajanta and Ellora Caves UNESCO World Heritage Site, Devagiri Fort, Asirgarh Fort, Rewa Fort, Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Koti Falls and Purva Falls etc. Will promote.
These are essential routes for transportation of goods like agricultural products, fertilizers, coal, steel, cement, containers, etc. Railways is an environment-friendly and energy efficient mode of transport, which will help in achieving climate goals and reducing the country’s logistics costs, reducing CO2 emissions (271 crore kg) which is equivalent to planting 11 crore trees.