The Union Cabinet has approved four major railway infrastructure projects totaling Rs 12,328 crore, aimed at enhancing connectivity, boosting tourism, and improving freight logistics across Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, and Assam. The decision adds 565 route kilometers to the Indian Railways network and is expected to generate 251 million human-days of employment during construction.
The new Deshalpar–Hajipir–Luna and Vayor–Lakhpat rail line in Gujarat will connect remote areas of the Kutch region, including the Rann of Kutch, Harappan site Dholavira, Koteshwar temple, Narayan Sarovar, and Lakhpat fort. With 13 new stations, the project will benefit 866 villages and approximately 1.6 million people. The Rs 2,526 crore line will facilitate transport of salt, cement, coal, clinker, and bentonite, and is expected to be completed in three years.
The Secunderabad (Sanathnagar)–Wadi third and fourth line, spanning 173 kilometers across Karnataka and Telangana, will cost Rs 5,012 crore and be completed in five years. The Bhagalpur–Jamalpur third line in Bihar, covering 53 kilometers, is budgeted at Rs 1,156 crore with a three-year timeline. The Furkating–New Tinsukia doubling project in Assam, covering 194 kilometers, will cost Rs 3,634 crore and be completed in four years.
These multi-tracking projects will benefit 3,108 villages and 47.34 million people, including one aspirational district, Kalaburagi. The expanded capacity will streamline operations, reduce congestion, and improve service reliability for both passenger and freight trains.
The projects are aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, focusing on multi-modal connectivity and logistics efficiency. They are expected to handle an additional 68 million tonnes of freight annually, including coal, cement, clinker, fly-ash, steel, containers, fertilizers, agricultural commodities, and petroleum products.
Environmental benefits include a reduction in oil imports by 560 million liters and CO₂ emissions by 360 million kilograms, equivalent to planting 140 million trees. The initiatives support Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a self-reliant India and aim to transform regional economies through comprehensive development and enhanced employment opportunities.
