Bhubaneswar: In a significant advancement for railway infrastructure and connectivity in the region, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, granted approval for the fourth railway line from Kharagpur to Jharsuguda (Bagdehi) on Wednesday.
In addition to this project, the CCEA has also authorized seven other railway initiatives, including the fourth line from Katni to Pendra Road, the third line from Bilaspur (Uslapur) to Pendra Road, the third and fourth lines from Arakkonam to Renigunta, the third and fourth lines from Whitefield to Bangarapet, the doubling of the Hosur-Omalur route, and the doubling and multi-tracking of the Secunderabad (Ghatkesar) to Kazipet line.
With an overall investment exceeding Rs 20,000 crore, these projects will span over 20 districts in states such as West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana.
They are expected to expand the Indian Railways network by approximately 1,200 kilometers.
The Ministry of Railways has indicated that these developments are part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, aimed at improving multi-modal connectivity and logistics efficiency through comprehensive planning and collaboration with stakeholders.
These initiatives will facilitate seamless movement for passengers, goods, and services.
Furthermore, the proposed projects will enhance connectivity to over 6,900 villages, benefiting a total population exceeding 10 million.
The ministry emphasized, “The Kharagpur-Jharsuguda corridor is expected to significantly strengthen rail connectivity and freight movement through Odisha and eastern India. The capacity augmentation will help ease congestion, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the reliability of passenger and freight services on one of the important railway corridors serving the region.”
Highlighting the advantages, the ministry noted that this capacity enhancement will bolster rail access to numerous key tourist attractions nationwide, including the Tara Tarini Temple, Jagannath Temple near Jharsuguda, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Virateshwar Temple, Amarkantak Temple, Jwaleshwar Dham, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, Khutaghat Dam, Malhar Archaeological Site, and Ratanpur Mahamaya Temple.
These proposed routes are vital for transporting essential commodities like coal, cement, iron, and steel, with the capacity enhancements expected to generate an additional freight traffic of 74 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).
During a media briefing regarding the new projects, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also updated the public on the bullet train initiative, stating that the indigenous high-speed train would be ready for testing by May or June of next year. The ministry has set a target of August next year to commence bullet train services on the 100-kilometer Surat-Vapi section in Gujarat.
