Cabinet Clears ₹10,783 Cr Railway Multitracking Projects to Boost Odisha’s Connectivity
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved three major railway multitracking projects worth ₹10,783 crore, covering 656 km across 14 districts in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
Scheduled for completion by 2029–30, these projects aim to ease congestion, improve passenger and freight movement, and strengthen multi‑modal connectivity under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
The sanctioned projects include the Kharagpur–Jharsuguda (Bagdehi) 4th line, Katni–Pendra Road 4th line, and Bilaspur (Uslapur)–Pendra Road 3rd line.
Together, they are expected to benefit nearly 4,790 villages with a population of 56 lakh.
Beyond connectivity, the projects will enhance access to key tourist and spiritual destinations such as Taratarini Temple, Shri Khetra Jagannath Temple, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Amarkantak Temple, and Malhar Archaeological Site.
Economically, the initiative will add 27 MTPA freight capacity, particularly for coal, cement, and steel, while reducing logistics costs and oil imports by 12 crore litres.
Environmentally, the projects are projected to cut 62 crore kg of CO₂ emissions—equivalent to planting 2.48 crore trees.
This infrastructure push is set to transform Odisha’s transport landscape, aligning with India’s broader goals of sustainable growth and climate responsibility.
