Cabinet Approves Rs 4,474 crore Rail Projects, Rs 3,839 crore Highway Project Also gets Nod

New Delhi, Mar 10 (KNN) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday approved two railway multitracking projects worth about Rs 4,474 crore in order to expand rail capacity and improving connectivity in the states of West Bengal and Jharkhand.

The projects include the construction of a fourth railway line on the Sainthia–Pakur section and another fourth line on the Santragachi–Kharagpur corridor. Together, the projects will add around 192 kilometres to the existing Indian Railways network and are scheduled for completion by 2030–31.

The projects have been planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which focuses on integrated infrastructure planning to strengthen multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency through coordinated stakeholder engagement.

According to official estimates, the projects will cover five districts across West Bengal and Jharkhand and are expected to improve rail connectivity for nearly 5,652 villages with a combined population of around 14.7 million.

Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet also approved the declaration of Madurai airport in Tamil Nadu as an international airport. Elevating Madurai airport to international status would enhance regional connectivity, promote trade, and drive economic development in the region.

The Cabinet also gave its nod for construction of four-lane Badnawar-Petlawad-Thandla-Timarwani section of Delhi Mumbai expressway in Madhya Pradesh on hybrid annuity mode. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 3,839.42 crore.
 
(KNN Bureau)