The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved four railway multi-tracking projects with a total investment of Rs 9,450 crore, scheduled for completion by 2030-31. The projects, covering eight districts across West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 410 km and enhance connectivity to approximately 6,448 villages with a combined population of about 60 lakh.
The approved projects include the Kharagpur-Bhadrak (Ranital) 4th Line, covering 173 km across West Bengal and Odisha; the Bhadrak-Haridaspur 4th Line, covering 75 km in Odisha; the Gummidipundi-Gudur 3rd and 4th Line, covering 90 km across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; and the Cuttack-Paradeep (Badabandha) 3rd and 4th Line, covering 72 km in Odisha.
Odisha stands to benefit significantly, with two of the four projects located entirely within the state and a third partly spanning it. A significant portion of the investment is focused on strengthening the Howrah-Chennai coastal rail corridor, where additional tracks are expected to improve movement of both passenger and freight trains, including cargo connectivity to Paradeep Port.
The increased line capacity is expected to significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. The multi-tracking proposals are poised to streamline operations and alleviate congestion across some of the network’s busiest sections.
