BHUBANESWAR: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved two multi-tracking railway projects worth Rs 3,907 crore, including the strategically significant Rs 2,542 crore doubling of the Paradip-Haridaspur rail line in the state.
The projects, cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also include the construction of a fourth railway line between Rajkharsawan and Dangoaposi in Jharkhand at an estimated cost of Rs 1,365 crore.
The approvals assume significance as they will strengthen freight movement and improve logistics efficiency across the mineral-rich eastern region.
Planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the projects are designed to enhance multimodal connectivity, ease network congestion and improve operational efficiency on some of the busiest freight corridors of the two mineral-rich states.
The Paradip-Haridaspur doubling is expected to significantly improve rail connectivity to Paradip port, one of India’s major cargo gateways, facilitating faster evacuation of coal, iron ore and other bulk commodities from Odisha’s mining belt. The project is expected to reduce logistics costs for industries by Rs 413 crore annually while supporting export-oriented cargo movement.
The Rajkharsawan-Dangoaposi section, which links Jharkhand’s industrial centres with Odisha’s iron ore-rich Keonjhar district, serves as a critical freight corridor for mineral transportation. Sources in the East Coast Railway (ECoR) said the fourth line is expected to substantially increase carrying capacity and reduce congestion, while improving punctuality of passenger services, including the Puri-Barbil Express and the Howrah-Barbil Jan Shatabdi Express.
Together, the two projects will add about 145 km to the Indian Railways network, benefitting around 1,526 villages with a combined population of nearly 14 lakh across Odisha and Jharkhand.
The proposed capacity enhancement will improve rail connectivity to several prominent tourist destinations including Lalitgiri Buddhist complex, Shree Baladevjew temple, Meghahatuburu Hills (in Jharkhand).
Railway minister Ashwini vaishnaw said the capacity augmentation will enable an additional freight movement of 28 million tonnes per annum in Paradip-Haridaspur route and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 18.5 crore kg, equivalent to planting 73 crore trees. He said the investments align with the vision of creating a modern, efficient and sustainable rail network while generating employment opportunities and supporting regional economic development through improved connectivity.